An accident report is a crucial document and piece of evidence for every motor vehicle collision. Without a report, the insurance company involved in the claim may refuse to start the claim until an official report is filed.
All accidents must be documented, in other words, by a law enforcement professional.
After an accident, you may have difficulty obtaining your report. You may also see inaccurate information on your report once you have obtained it.
You may also have questions about how key pieces of information on the report could affect your ability to file an accident claim against the at-fault driver in order to obtain compensation for the damages you have suffered.
At Bert McDowell Injury Law, we are highly familiar with the process of creating and obtaining police reports. We have also worked with law enforcement officers to have reports amended or expanded so that they include all of the needed, relevant information in fully accuracy.
Reach out to us to discuss the details of your recent pedestrian, motorcycle, truck, or car accident. We’ll help you understand what elements of your crash report are critical and how to use these reports to the fullest advantage when seeking compensation for your injury treatments and other costs.
Schedule a free, no-obligation case review to discuss your possible claim and have any pressing questions answered by an experienced Bridgeport personal injury attorney team when you call (203) 590-9169 or contact us online today.
When Are Bridgeport Police Accident Reports Needed After a Crash?
Every state has unique laws regarding when a police accident report needs to be filed after an incident involving motor vehicles; Connecticut law (Vehicle Code § 9-26-1-1.1) requires an accident report to be filed in all crash situations where there is an injury or death related to the crash event. Additionally, an accident report must be filed if a driver causes damage to an unattended vehicle or any other property and is unable to locate the property owner after taking “reasonable steps.”
Failing to stop immediately at or near a crash in any of the above situations constitutes a misdemeanor when the injuries were minor and a Level 6 felony in the event of any serious injury or death. You must also exchange your name, contact information, and insurance information with other drivers or parties involved before leaving the scene.
It is advisable to file a crash report any time there is the possibility of any injuries or where damages have occurred that would require more than $500 or so to provide the needed repairs or replacement. Since it is impossible to accurately predict the outcome of any possible injuries or needed repairs, it is always prudent to go ahead and report an accident right at the moment they happen.
Ideally, this will be done by calling 911 or the closest precinct/state police office at the scene of the accident.
Can I File an Accident Report Online in Connecticut?
Unlike many other states, Connecticut does not provide an online portal to submit a crash report. Instead, you are expected to contact a station located in Bridgeport (or the closest municipality to where your accident occurred) or call a state police office nearby.
An officer will be able to take the report in person if the accident just occurred or over the phone if the accident is more than a few hours old.
How Can I Obtain a Copy of My Crash Report?
To obtain a copy of your crash report, you must request the records directly from the precinct or state police office that originally recorded the report.
Most crash reports result in an 8-page (single-sided) document, equalling about $4. Reports can be provided by the Records Division during an in-person visit (cash only), or they may be mailed to the recipient after receipt of a money order.
An online copy of the report can also be obtained through the use of a third-party vendor. If there was a separate arrest made in connection with the accident, such as if one driver was arrested because of a suspected DUI, a copy of that related incident report could be obtained through the victim’s advocate serving the criminal court responsible for ruling on the case.
In accidents where Connecticut State Police responded and recorded the collision report, a summary of the report can be obtained online by submitting at least three of the following parameters:
Date of the crash
License plate of any vehicle involved
Last name of a driver or other crash victim involved
Driver’s license number for one of the vehicle operators involved
The incident number or call for service (CFS) number
What Information Is Typically Recorded on Bridgeport Police Accident Reports?
Law enforcement officers completing a crash report have the option to fill out only as much of the report as is relevant and for which information is available. At a minimum, the report will record the location, date, approximate time of day, and primary details of the event, including any witnesses, victims, or other individuals who remained at the scene and provided information.
A typical accident report will include information on any of the following:
Crash severity
First harmful event
Crash city, location
Manner of impact
Weather conditions
Light conditions
Road surface condition
Any contributing environmental or road factors
Proximity to an intersection or other junction
Whether a school bus or work zone was involved
A rough diagram depicting the crash event, including the trajectory of the vehicles and main impact sites
Whether vehicles were moved prior to police arrival
Name, date of birth, gender, address, license number, and other available contact information of drivers (and others) involved
Injuries, including severity and whether victims were incapacitated or killed
Any violations committed in connection with the accident
Results of relevant drug and alcohol tests, if any
The medical facility where crash victims were transported
Airbag status
Seat belt restraint, helmet usage
The seating arrangement of all vehicle occupants involved in a crash
Whether someone was ejected from the vehicle
Speeding suspected
Distractions present
Other relevant driver actions
Information on witnesses, including contact information
Vehicle identification number (VIN) of any vehicles involved
Make, year, model, color, and license plate numbers of vehicles
Total occupants per vehicle
The direction of travel prior to the event
Sequence of events
Most harmful event
Information on vehicle towing
Identification number for the responding officer
What if There Were Errors, Inaccuracies, or Other Issues on My Accident Report?
It is possible to correct (amend) or add to (supplement) existing accident reports. However, doing so can present significant challenges unless proper preparations are made.
Any time a crash report is changed, the officer who made the original report has to make the changes themselves. The person seeking the change will have to contact the officer directly and get them to agree to make these changes.
As one might imagine, it would be easier to convince a law enforcement officer to make some changes compared to others. Specifically, if you have objective proof of something that is difficult to dispute, such as the time or location of the accident or whether an airbag deployed, it can be easier to get the officer to consent to the change if sufficient evidence is provided.
Information that is harder to decipher, such as the exact moment of impact, will require highly compelling — almost irrefutable — evidence. Corrections involving the officer’s judgment, such as whether someone ran a stop sign versus made a quick stop, will be almost impossible to get them to agree to unless highly convincing reasoning is presented along with airtight evidence.
In any case, where you notice incorrect information on your Bridgeport accident report, it is vital to act fast, gathering as much objective evidence as you can before contacting the officer who made the report. A car accident report attorney from Bert McDowell Injury Law can supply assistance based on our deep history of working closely with law enforcement officers and other public personnel.
We can help you prepare for your meeting or call with the officer, including the types of justification you can offer in order to have the report changed. If the officer agrees to the changes, they will file either an amended report or a report supplement containing the information requested.
Get Help Filing an Accident Report, Requesting Changes, and Other Vital Tasks From an Experienced Injury Law Firm
The moments and weeks after an accident are sure to be a sensitive time for you and your entire family. You may be grappling with injuries, steep medical bills, and missed work hours.
On top of all this, you may experience confusion or anxiety regarding how to best handle filing and retrieving your car accident report.
An experienced car accident attorney from Bert McDowell Injury Law is here to help. We can not only assist with getting crash reports completed or changed, but we aim to help you through every step of the injury recovery process.
If your accident was the result of a careless driver, vehicle defect, or other third-party mistake, you may have the option to file a liability claim. A successful claim allows you to obtain money for your injury treatment costs, lost wages, and other damages.
Learn more about how we have helped thousands upon thousands of Bridgeport locals and visitors successfully manage their accidents and obtain the compensation they desperately need during a free case evaluation. Schedule your free case evaluation with an experienced Bridgeport car accident lawyer today when you call (203) 590-9169 or contact us online.
(203) 690-1030
(203) 690-1030
An accident report is a crucial document and piece of evidence for every motor vehicle collision. Without a report, the insurance company involved in the claim may refuse to start the claim until an official report is filed.