Calling 911 following a car crash might be somewhat instinctual for victims, particularly after they suffer injuries and need medical assistance or help processing the scene. Though they may know to involve law enforcement, victims may not know how they can get the report containing officers’ notes and other relevant information, and we can step in to facilitate its retrieval.
Immediately, we can confirm whether the East Orange Police Department (EOPD) or the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) responded to the crash site and completed your report. This will depend on the collision’s location, such as if it happened on a residential road or highway, like the Garden State Parkway. Reports from the EOPD are only available in person, while reports from the NJSP can be retrieved online. Reports are only created when victims call 911 after accidents. Though car accident participants legally have to report accidents in certain situations, such as if someone is injured or property damage exceeds a specific amount, you can and should report your crash, regardless of the apparent fallout.
For a free case review from our East Orange car accident attorneys, contact Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. today by calling (201) 777-1111.
Where to Get a Police Report for Your Recent Car Accident in East Orange
The accident’s location will dictate who responds to the accident, whether the East Orange Police Department or the NJSP, which may be the case if you were hurt on the Garden State Parkway, for example. We can use the accident’s location to figure out which agency responded, particularly if you are unsure, and proceed with the necessary steps to help you acquire the report and any other relevant materials.
Reports Taken by the East Orange Police Department
After calling 911 for your accident on a residential street or road other than a highway, officers of the East Orange Police Department may arrive. Before you leave the scene, possibly to go to the hospital for urgent medical care, officers should give you the report number to easily access the report once it’s finished. If you never received this number or have since misplaced it, our East Orange personal injury attorneys can figure it out on your behalf when helping you obtain the police report.
Victims can make requests for accident reports in person at the EOPD or by mail in some cases. Requests are not accepted over the phone or by email, nor are reports sent via email. The Records Bureau is located within the EOPD at 15 South Munn Avenue. You can go to the Records Bureau Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm.
Though N.J.S.A. § 39:3-131 requires police departments to finalize accident reports and make them accessible five days after collisions, it’s generally wise to call ahead of time and make sure your report is ready before trying to obtain it in person. Certain factors, like an accident involving a fatality or many drivers, could complicate the report and delay its availability. Be prepared to give some identifying information about yourself when retrieving the report, like your full name and driver’s license number, and some details about the accident so Records Bureau staff can locate the report. There may be a small processing fee associated with obtaining your report from the EOPD.
Reports Taken by the New Jersey State Police
Both the Garden State Parkway and I-280 run straight through East Orange. Highways see frequent accidents, and it is generally the New Jersey State Police’s responsibility to respond to crashes in these areas. Crash reports for accidents on either the Garden State Parkway or I-280 in East Orange can be obtained through the NJSP’s online portal. Victims will choose the road the accident happened on and search for the report by the case number, their driver’s license number, their license plate number, or their last name, and the collision date. Toll road accident reports for crashes on these roads cost $5 from the NJSP.
To get a fatal crash report from the NJSP for an accident on the Garden State Parkway, you must complete and submit an Open Public Records Act request rather than search on the NJSP’s typical online portal for reports. You can get a fatal crash report for an accident on I-280 through the normal NJSP online portal for reports. These reports cost $20, with extra charges for photographic prints.
When You Need to Report Car Accidents to the Police in East Orange
You can only get an accident report if you call 911 and inform the police about your crash. While New Jersey only requires police reporting for certain accidents, it generally benefits victims to involve the police so there is sufficient documentation of a collision.
According to § 39:4-130, you only have to call 911 if an accident causes injury, death, or more than $500 in property damage. Assessing property damage is challenging, so if your car is at all dented or otherwise affected by the crash, you should call the police immediately, even if the at-fault driver attempts to dissuade you from doing so.
Furthermore, victims may not always notice their injuries right away. The immediate shock of an accident might delay pain or symptoms associated with fractures, whiplash, concussions, or other injuries. If there is any potential for an injury, call the police so officers can document the accident, collect all involved parties’ information, and note apparent primary and contributing factors.
Because police reports can be useful to our attorneys when initially preparing claims, pinning down the sequence of events for a collision, and even identifying eyewitnesses we should interview, do not hesitate to call 911 and request officers come to the site any time you are involved in an auto accident.
Call Our Attorneys Today for Help with Your Car Accident Case in East Orange
For a free case assessment from the New Jersey car accident attorneys of Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C., call (201) 777-1111 today.