Unfortunately, your responsibilities after a motor vehicle accident can pile up quickly. You will likely have to deal with healthcare appointments, vehicle repairs, medical bills, insurance claims, and more. You will also need to report your accident to the authorities and get a copy of the accident report to help with your case against an at-fault driver. We can help you obtain this report and handle the logistics of your car accident case while you heal from your injuries.
At Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers, our legal team has decades of experience handling car accident cases effectively. We handle all the legal and insurance details of these cases to give our injured clients time to recover and feel like themselves again. If you are a car crash victim, we can stand in the gap for you and maximize your compensation.
Why Are Accident Reports So Important?
First and foremost, New York law requires anyone who is in a motor vehicle accident to report the accident to law enforcement if the crash involves an injury or property damage worth more than $1,000. If you fail to take this step after a crash, you could be subject to severe penalties, such as:
- A monetary fine,
- Imprisonment, or
- License suspension or revocation.
You have 10 days from the date of your accident to file your report. But if your injuries render you unable to report the crash, another involved party or the vehicle’s owner can file the report.
After you file your accident report, you must obtain a copy from the Department of Motor Vehicles or White Plains Public Safety. Getting a copy of your crash report is crucial because the at-fault party’s insurance company will likely want to see it before making an offer or paying your claim. Also, accident reports contain vital information, such as witness names and vehicle details, to help you develop a strong compensation case.
How to Get a Copy of Your Crash Report
You have options for obtaining a report from the Department of Motor Vehicles or White Plains Public Safety.
Getting a Report from the Department of Motor Vehicles
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) keeps motor vehicle accident reports for four years. After you file your accident report, you can ask the DMV for a copy, but you may have to wait multiple days to months before the report is available. Depending on how and where you filed your report, it should be available within the following timeframes:
- If you electronically filed your report in one of New York City’s boroughs, your report should be available within 14 days of your accident;
- If a paper police report was filed, your report should be available within 30 days of your accident; and
- If you filed a report from anywhere in New York outside of New York City’s boroughs, your report should be available within 60 days of the incident.
We can keep track of these timelines for you to ensure that you obtain a report as soon as it is ready.
When your report is ready, you have multiple options for requesting it from the DMV. You can request your report online or by mail. When filling out the online or mail-in form, you will need to provide at least some of the following information:
- Your name;
- Your contact information;
- The date of your accident;
- The location of your accident, including the county;
- The license plate number of a vehicle in the accident;
- The driver’s license number of someone in the accident;
- The eight-digit DMV number for your case; and
- The date of birth and name of someone involved in the crash.
Before making an online report order, you will likely have to do a paid online search for the accident.
Each report through the DMV typically costs $15, and each paid search costs $7. If you want a certified copy of your accident report, the cost of each search is $10, and the cost of each report is $15.
Getting a Report from White Plains Public Safety
You can also request your accident report from White Plains Public Safety’s Accident Report Database powered by CARFAX®. To search the database for your report, you must provide the following information:
- Your last name or the last name of anyone involved,
- The accident date, and
- Your accident report or reference number.
Downloading a report costs $10. If you do not want to make your request online, you can visit the White Plains Data Management Unit Office between Monday and Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Report?
If you obtain your report from White Plains Public Safety, getting a report might take five to seven business days. Once your report is available through the DMV, you should be able to obtain an online report immediately. Keep in mind that you have only seven days to access it without having to pay an additional fee.
There are a lot of little timelines and steps to take when filing and requesting a collision report. However, you do not have to worry about these steps if you contact an attorney from our firm right away. We can help handle all the details of your case in a timely fashion and preserve your rights.
Need Help After a Car Accident? Contact Our Experienced Car Accident Lawyers Today
When you hire an attorney from Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers, you receive personalized and full-service treatment. We know that you are struggling with your health and trying to recover from injuries—and we want to take the legal burden off your plate while helping to ensure you get appropriately compensated for your losses.
Our experienced car accident lawyers in White Plains, New York, want to make sure that you have nothing to worry about when it comes to managing your case. We help make sure your bills get paid and that you are in contact with the best healthcare professionals for your injuries. We have the legal acumen to develop effective strategies that help you get the financial help you need to pay crash-related costs. Please contact us by phone or online to schedule a consultation.
