How long does it take to get a Traffic Accident Report from CHP?

No one goes about their day thinking that they’ll end up in a car accident. But it happens all too frequently in the state California for many reasons, including drunk driving, speeding, bad weather, and falling asleep at the wheel. When an accident occurs on a highway, freeway, or a major roadway outside of city limits, the agency in charge of the accident report is CHP, or the California Highway Patrol.

Once the CHP officer takes down the needed information from you, the other driver, and any other involved parties, they will draft what’s known as a traffic accident report. This document is extremely important, as it’s required by insurance companies in order to file an injury or property damage claim. Considering how much is at stake, you would assume that law enforcement agencies finalize the accident report and make it available to you as soon as possible. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, as we can attest from the many frustrated victims who’ve reach out to us for help.

We know how upsetting it is when you can’t get answers on something you desperately need. In particular, CHP is rather evasive when it comes to how long it takes for them to process an accident report. This is one of the top questions we receive at our law firm, so we would like to offer some insight on this topic based on our many years of experience with car accident injury claims. We believe you’ll find this information helpful, but you are likely to have further questions that are specific to your accident. If so, please give us a call at our office and speak with one of our attorneys.

How long does it take to get a copy of my Accident Report from CHP?

Though it’s not stated on their website, the majority of CHP reports are ready within one week. This is much faster than local police departments and sheriff’s offices, where it can take up to two months before a police report is ready for release. However, accidents involving fatalities or severe injuries need to be investigated by the agency’s Collision Investigation Unit. The process can take several weeks to several months, which will unfortunately hold up the finalization of an accident report.

But if your accident does not involve extreme circumstances, you should be able to request a copy of the report within 7 days from the date of your accident. If your report is still not ready and you’re unable to find out why, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. The CHP is no different than any other government agency, and sometimes it’s hard to get answers or get through to the person who has the answers. In most cases, our lawyers can retrieve a copy of a CHP accident report in as little as 3 to 5 days. Or, we can obtain the relevant information while the report is still being finalized. That way, we can begin working on your case and building a strong foundation for monetary damages.

Will I have to Pay for a Copy of my Car Accident Report?

Yes, there is a fee for a copy of your traffic accident report, though this is another issue that’s not clearly explained on the CHP website. First, you will need to decide on the method for ordering a copy of your report, which you can do by mail or in person. Second, you’ll need to locate the CHP area office that’s closest to you and call them to ask about the cost for a car accident report. Then, print out the CHP 190 form (Application for Release of Information) and drop it off at your local area office or mail it to the office with the applicable fee.

This process may seem overly complicated if you’ve only dealt with accident reports filed by your local police department. Most police departments, for example, allow you to order report copies online. Additionally, they clearly list the fees and acceptable payment methods on their website. Online access is incredibly helpful as it allows people to check on the status of their report and find out if it’s ready for release. CHP does not offer such features, which can put stress on victims who are struggling with the financial and emotional toll of their accident.

The lawyers of Normandie are happy to assist you with this process, along with anything else that’s needed for your insurance claim. Contact our office as soon as you can and speak to a California car accident lawsuit attorney.
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Why is it taking so long to get my Traffic Accident Report from CHP?

People generally associate the California Highway Patrol with giving out tickets and writing up reports for car crashes on the highway. In actuality, the agency has many other duties, including the protection of state buildings, assisting local and federal agencies, and serving as the primary law enforcement agency in rural areas. Essentially, these officers are extremely busy and it’s not uncommon for accident reports to sit idle on someone’s desk. In most cases, the reports are finished and just waiting for a supervisor’s approval, or waiting to be loaded in the system.

People in this situation often call us to ask, “Can a lawyer help me get a copy of my accident report?” We can certainly expedite the process on your behalf and ensure that your claim for damages is filed on time.

What are my Rights if there’s False Information in my Accident Report?

Another area where we can help is accident reports with mistakes or false information. This can be a truly aggravating situation when you’ve already waited for weeks to receive a copy of your accident report. But if the report has been finalized, is there a way to get it changed?

The answer is yes, but it won’t be easy depending on what you need to have changed. For example, an erroneous birth date or license plate number can be easily altered, since you can supply immediate proof of the correct information. On the other hand, a false witness statement or the number of miles you were traveling, are much harder to prove.

By now, you may have contacted the responding officer to point out the mistake. Chances are, they refused to amend the report without solid proof. That’s understandable, and we are here to help you collect the needed evidence. What we can recover depends on the details of your accident, but video footage may be available from traffic cameras or a dash cam in one of the involved vehicles. Sometimes, we can locate new witnesses who were not included in the original report. We may also be able to create a timeline of the accident that supports your version of the events.

For more information on how to make changes to a police report, call us today and schedule a free consultation.

What if my Lawyer won’t Help me get my Police Report Changed?

Your lawyer should take immediate action if there is compelling evidence to support a change to your accident report. We can’t say for sure why they’re refusing your request, but there may be several reasons:

• Your lawyer is overwhelmed with too many cases and cannot give you the time and attention you deserve.
• There are cases that are easier to settle, or ones with higher case values that are being prioritized over yours.
• Your attorney is not experienced enough to handle the complexities in your accident.

Again, it’s impossible to know what’s going on with your attorney without a full review of your case. For a case evaluation with one of our attorneys, please come and see us for a free second opinion. During this time, we can go over your concerns regarding your lawyer’s service and evaluate the work that’s been done on your case. We will point you to any warning signs and help you make an informed decision on whether or not to continue with your attorney. If you feel that working with us is the right choice for you, we will do all the work of transferring your case to our firm.

Contact Normandie Law Firm

Getting a copy of your traffic accident report should be the easiest step in a claim for injuries. Instead, car accident victims find themselves calling the California Highway Patrol week after week, trying find out the status of their report. Without a doubt, some accidents require lengthy investigations that can take months to wrap up. But in reality, many reports are held up by careless errors, disorganized workers, and lack of communication between departments. Cutting through the red tape of bureaucracy requires extensive legal knowledge and many years of working with California law enforcement agencies. The attorneys of Normandie Law Firm have both of these skills and are ready to fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve.

We realize that legal fees are a big concern when you’re dealing with the losses from a car accident. Let us assure you that your finances are never at risk when you choose our law firm, thanks to the Zero fee guarantee. Our lawyers work on contingency, so you are not responsible for any of our fees. Instead, our costs will be calculated into your settlement and recovered only if we win your case. And as a part of our Zero fee guarantee, you pay us absolutely nothing if we don’t win your case.

Have you been injured in a car accident and are struggling to get a hold of your traffic accident report? Do you have an active insurance claim or lawsuit, but want to change to a law firm that doesn’t treat you like a number? Then please take the opportunity of reaching out to us and scheduling a free consultation or free second opinion.