How to Access a Car Accident Police Report in Lauderhill, FL

The easiest way to access a car accident police report for a crash in Lauderhill, FL, is by going online and using the Broward County web portal to request the record. Other options include getting a hard copy by calling or requesting a record by mail.

If you have trouble accessing a police report, a Lauderhill car accident lawyer from our personal injury law firm can help you obtain the necessary documentation.

You Can Access Lauderhill, FL, Car Accident Reports Online, by Phone, or by Mail

The most straightforward way to request a Lauderhill, FL, crash report from the police is to use the Broward County Public Records Center web portal. This online form will guide you through putting in the correct information to obtain your report.

Statewide Crash Reports

In addition to requesting a record from the county, you can utilize the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) web portal. This has crash reports for the entire state and can provide another option for an online search if you’re having difficulty with the Broward County portal.

Record Requests by Phone

If you would rather speak to a live person or are having trouble with any of the online portals, you can call the Broward Sheriff’s Office Public Records Unit. The number is (954) 831-8700, and the unit is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Record Requests by Mail

Another alternative is mailing a request in writing to the Broward County Public Records Unit at the following address:

Broward Sheriff’s Office

Public Records Unit

Attention: Erin Foley, RMLO

P.O. Box 9507

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310

What do You Need to Request a Car Accident Police Report in Florida?

Generally, the information you’ll need when making a request is:

• Your contact and identifying info like name and address
• Accident information like the date, time, and location
• Case number assigned to your accident, if possible

Some accident victims don’t have this information on hand. This can be especially true if you suffered serious or incapacitating injuries in the crash; you may not accurately remember the time and place of the accident or any report numbers assigned to your case.

If this describes your situation, contact our Lauderhill personal injury attorneys. We can handle getting this information and tracking down your records.

What does Retrieving a Lauderhill, FL, Car Accident Report Cost?

If your record can be found in under 15 minutes, there is no charge. Requests that take more time could cost $25 per hour. If you’re worried about the cost of retrieving a record, we can work to verify the time and cost.

Reasons for Accessing a Police Report After a Lauderhill, FL Car Accident

Reports the authorities file about your car accident include evidence that could help you when filing an insurance claim or even a personal injury lawsuit. These records can:

• Provide observations about the location, traffic and road conditions, debris, and angle of impact.
• Indicate whether someone received a citation for violating traffic laws or was named the at-fault party.
• Contain contact information for parties involved and witnesses to the crash who could provide additional evidence.
• Offer possible explanations for what happened based on the officer’s investigation at the scene and after the fact.
• Help establish what damage was done by the crash and what compensation you could deserve for your losses.

As you can imagine, this can all prove vital when dealing with issues like determining the other party’s negligence and whether they should pay for your damages.

Even in cases where it isn’t clear who was responsible, police reports can provide clues that our investigators can follow up on to determine what happened. The police report isn’t the end of a car accident investigation. Your legal team can pick up the trail and continue looking into what occurred.

Other Evidence Used in Lauderhill Car Accident Cases

As important as their observations are, police officers are not infallible. This is why police records are just one form of evidence personal injury attorneys use. In fact, our Florida car accident lawyers can seek to prove another party was at fault for a crash, even if the police report says otherwise.

This is because police officers are operating only with certain information when they review the accident scene and file their reports. They also view an accident from their point of view. To get to the heart of what happened to cause your crash, we need to look at multiple perspectives.

In addition to police reports, the following could shed light on what occurred:

• Medical records and doctor testimony that show the injuries you sustained in the crash and how that illustrates what happened and what you need in damages.
• Medical records for the other parties that document blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels, drug use, or other conditions that could show the parties were unfit to operate a vehicle.
• Testimony, photos, and video footage from eyewitnesses that provide a third-party perspective on the accident.
• Footage from traffic cameras, nearby security cameras, or dash cameras, allowing us to analyze the crash from other angles.
• Expert evaluations on debris, injuries, auto parts, or other areas relevant to your case, helping us reconstruct what happened.
• Business records if a truck, company car, taxi, or rideshare hit you, showing us if the business demonstrated negligence or shares liability with its employees and contractors.
• Physical evidence like debris, auto parts, and even clothing from the crash.

If your Florida accident report indicates you were at fault for the motor vehicle accident, but you don’t believe that’s accurate, the lawyers from our firm can gather and review other evidence to gain a more nuanced look at your accident.

Our Florida Car Accident Lawyers Help You Obtain Reports and Other Records

Whether you’re struggling to navigate Broward County’s online portal or need help gathering other evidence, you can contact Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers today to get more information for free.

Not only can we help you access your Lauderhill, FL, car accident report, but our auto accident attorneys can also obtain additional evidence that can form the foundation of a case for accurate damages.