A car accident is one of the most stressful events you can ever go through, but at least there is auto insurance coverage to help you recover your losses. That’s why you called the police right away and had them write up an accident report. If the responding officer was from the Culver City Police Department, they should have given you a preliminary copy of the report, along with a case number. This way, you can check up on the status of your report and see if it’s ready for release.
The process should be smooth and easy, but that’s not always the case when it comes to law enforcement agencies. It can be difficult to get answers to the most basic questions, like “How long will it take for my accident report to be finalized?”
We know how stressful it can be when you’re waiting on an accident report, which you are required to submit to the insurance company. Today, we’ll go over the timeline for a traffic accident report with the Culver City PD, along with other helpful information, such as:
- Can I get a copy of my accident report online?
- Do I have to pay to get a copy of my accident report?
- If there’s a mistake on my report, how can I get it fixed?
If you have further questions regarding your rights and legal options, contact Normandie Law Firm and speak to one of our attorneys. We will be happy to advise you during a free consultation.
How Fast Can I get an Accident Report from the Culver City PD?
The Culver City PD advises that you should wait at least 10 days from the date of your accident before checking up on the status of your police report. This will give them enough time to review the details of your accident and have it approved by the members of their Traffic Unit.
However, some reports will take longer than 10 days, depending on the details of the accident. For example, did the accident result in serious injuries or a fatality? Was a pedestrian injured in the accident? These cases required longer investigations, especially if criminal charges are involved. This is particularly relevant with hit and runs, which are classified as misdemeanors or felonies in the state of California. For these types of cases, an accident report can take several weeks or months before it’s ready for release.
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Can I order it Online?
Yes, accident reports filed by the Culver City PD can be ordered online. To place an order, navigate to the “Traffic Accident Reports” section of the Culver City Police Department website. Then, click the “Request a copy of your report online” link, which will take you to the LexisNexis Buy Crash portal. Here, you can look up your report by name, location of the accident, date of the incident, and the report number. Once you locate your report, the system will walk you through the purchasing process.
If you’re unable to find your report on LexisNexis, don’t panic. Some reports have special circumstances that are still under investigation, or details that cannot be made public. So if your report is not available online, you must contact the Culver City PD at (310) 253-6119 or policerecords@culvercity.org.
When you call the police department, it’s possible that you will face resistance when you ask for details regarding your traffic accident report. Perhaps you’ve called them already – more than once – and were given vague or evasive answers as to when your report will be ready. If you’re not getting anywhere with the Culver City Police Department, give us a call at our office. Our lawyers can track down your traffic collision report or find out the reason for why it’s being delayed. In many cases, there is information that the police can release to us, even if the report has yet be finalized. This way, we can start to work on your claim and build a case that will result in the compensation you deserve.
Is there Another Way to get a Copy of my Traffic Accident Report?
The LexisNexis system is the quickest way to order your accident report or verify that it’s ready for release. But if you don’t have online access, you’re probably wondering about how to reach the Culver City PD to obtain a copy of your accident report. One method is to call the phone number for the Culver City PD Records Unit, which is (310) 253-6119. This way, you can make sure that your report is ready before you head down to the Records Unit, which is located at 4040 Duquesne Ave, Culver City, CA 90232.
Unlike most other police departments, Culver City PD does not process mail-in requests for accident reports. So the only alternative to placing an online order is to go down to the Records Unit in person. The Culver City PD website advises there may be a long wait, so make sure to prepare for that ahead of time.
Will I be Charged for a Copy of my Traffic Collision Report?
While the wait times are long at the Culver City PD Records Unit, the upside is that you will not have to pay for a copy of your accident report. If you’re ordering a report online, you will be assessed a “convenience fee.” The amount of the fee is not listed on the Culver City PD website, so you will have to look up your report on the LexisNexis system in order to find this information.
What can I do if there’s an Error on my Accident Report?
Mistakes on a police report are not uncommon, as accident scenes can be fairly chaotic. It’s possible for the responding officer to transpose numbers, misquote somebody, or make some other error that can compromise your accident report. Traffic reports can also contain false information if the other driver lied to minimize their liability for the accident.
If the mistake is something simple, like a wrong license plate number, that can be easily changed. But other changes require evidence, which is very difficult for most people to obtain. If you’re struggling to prove that there is a mistake on your accident report, contact our office right away. With our many years of experience in car accident lawsuits, we know the type of evidence that the Culver City PD is looking for. We will get to work immediately in order to obtain surveillance footage, new witness statements, and anything else that can back up your version of the events. The important thing is to act quickly, since evidence is harder to locate as time passes by.
My Lawyer won’t Help me with my Accident Report – What can I Do?
A competent and caring attorney should act immediately in order to get a copy of your accident report. If you have a copy already, but there’s a mistake or false information, your lawyer should be fighting vigorously to get the report changed. If your lawyer isn’t doing that on your behalf, it’s time to get a second opinion from another attorney.
When you come in for a free second opinion with one of our attorneys, they will take the time to listen to your concerns regarding your attorney’s service. Frankly, some lawyers are too busy to give their clients the time and attention they deserve. Others prioritize clients by case value and devote most of their time to the ones that will bring in the highest settlements. Your lawyer’s refusal to help you can also be a sign of incompetence, meaning they are not experienced enough to handle the complexities in your accident.
Regardless of what the problem is, you have the choice to change attorneys at any point in your case. However, there are consequences to firing your attorney, which we will go over with you to ensure that you’re making an informed decision. If switching to our law firm is the right choice for you, we’ll contact your current lawyer and take care of the entire transfer process.
To schedule a free second opinion, please contact our office at your earliest convenience.
Our Zero Fee Guarantee
Insurance coverage exists to protect injured individuals in the event of an accident. However, it’s impossible for accident victims to access that coverage without the needed documentation. A traffic accident report is the most important document in any auto accident claim. Unfortunately, reports can be held up by the Culver City PD for many reasons, and victims often find themselves unable to make progress. Even if the report is released in a timely manner, all the information has to be correct in order for the victim to receive the compensation they’re entitled to.
If you are struggling with either of these issues, the lawyers of Normandie are here to help. If legal fees are holding you back from contacting us, let us tell you about our Zero fee guarantee. Under this policy, you will never be charged upfront for any of our services. Our legal fees are calculated into your settlement, so it’s the other party who will be paying us once we win your case. As you can see, there is nothing to lose by speaking with our lawyers and starting a claim for monetary compensation. If you have a pending lawsuit and want to switch to our firm, our Zero fee guarantee is there for you as well.
If you’re ready for a free consultation or free second opinion, please give us a call and schedule a time with one of our attorneys.
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