How to Get a Car Accident Police Report in Washington State - Automobile Accidents Legal Blogs Posted by Michael John Tario

If you have been in a car accident or were a direct witness to a car accident, you should call 9-1-1. Ideally, emergency responders will arrive, including the police who can conduct a brief investigation and file a Police Traffic Collision Report. Although not admissible in court, accident reports are used by insurance companies to help determine fault in car accidents.

Should I call the police for a minor accident in Washington State?

In Washington state it is not required by law to call the police for minor accidents (although insurance information must be exchanged before people can legally leave the scene of an accident). It’s usually a good idea to call the police anyway, even if the injuries and property damage are minor. Having an accident report can help you find a full and fair settlement for your injuries and losses.

Whether or not you call the police after an accident, you must report the collision to your insurance company.

How to get a police report of a car accident in Washington State

In the event of an accident, call 9-1-1 immediately. Assuming the police arrive, they will conduct a brief investigation to try to determine who caused the accident and whether there was a crime such as running a red light. If so, they will write down the offending driver in the accident report. They will also record where and when the accident occurred, which vehicles were involved in the accident, and know the appearance and conditions of the road. They will then gather information from any witnesses and make a note of any accidents. They can make a picture of the accident site.

Be prepared to provide the following information to the police:

Before responding officers leave the scene, ask them:

Submitting your own police report

If the police do not arrive after your 9-1-1 call, you can still file your police report online; and it should be done as soon as possible because the guilty party may try to get out of accepting responsibility if you wait.

To file your police report you will want to:

Note: If there is more than $1,000 in property damage, Washingtonians are required by law to report the collision online to the Washington State Patrol through OMVCR unless the responding officer issues a Traffic Collision Report The police.

Check your police report

You’ll want to get a copy of your police report so you can read it and see how the responding officer assigned blame for the accident. Click here to request a copy of your Washington collision report.

What do I do after a police report is filed?

After you have sought medical attention and filed a police report, you may wish to contact a local car accident attorney who can discuss your legal rights and ensure that they are protected by a repair method.

Get help from a car accident attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation you deserve. It is common to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of an attorney. Call the personal injury attorneys at Tario & Associates, PS in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we reimburse you!