How to Get a Police Report After a Car Accident in Orange County, FL?

After any car accident that causes an injury, the police should be called to visit the scene and create their accident report. Your accident report is often among the first pieces of information assessed by lawyers and insurance companies when determining how or why your collision happened. It may offer a wide array of information such as witness statements, statements from drivers, and a drawn crash diagram.

There are multiple ways to get a police report after a car accident in Orange County, FL. You may request a copy of your report by contacting the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Records Department. Alternatively, you may obtain a copy of your report online by using the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) Crash Portal.

After suffering a car accident, get help from our experienced Orange County car accident attorneys by calling The Law Offices of David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. at (954) 751-4258.

Obtaining a Copy of Your Police Report After a Crash in Orange County, FL

There are two ways you may obtain a copy of your police report after suffering a car accident in Orange County, FL. First, you may acquire a copy of your report by reaching out to the Orange County Sherriff’s Office Records Department. You can call the department at (407) 254-7280. Also, you can also visit them in person between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm from Monday to Friday. Their address is 2500 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL, 32804.

You may also request a copy of your report online by visiting the FLHSMV Crash Portal. In order to request a copy of your police report online, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. First, you must have been involved in the crash or otherwise named on the report as an individual involved in the accident. Second, your crash must have occurred in 2011 or later.

When requesting a copy of your report online, you should be prepared to provide your accident case number, the date your crash happened, and the name of a driver involved. Additionally, you must pay a $10 fee for every report your request and a $2 convenience fee for every transaction you execute. If your request is successful, then you will 48 hours to download your report.

The process for requesting a police report can be confusing. Thankfully, after your free case review, you can have our car accident lawyers handle your request for you.

What Information is Included in a Police Report for a Car Accident in Orange County, FL?

Police reports can be very valuable to plaintiffs in car accident cases. For example, your report may offer a great deal of background information pertaining to your crash. The date, time, and location of your collision may be listed. Additionally, the names of all drivers and any potential eyewitnesses may be identified.

Furthermore, your police report can help explain the damage caused by your accident. The drafting officer may describe the vehicle damage you incurred. Also, any physical injuries you sustained may be noted in the report.

Finally, your police report can point to a wide array of information that helps establish fault for your accident. For instance, the report may provide witness statements, a crash diagram, or an officer’s personal opinion regarding your collision’s cause. All of this information can be highly valuable when seeking to establish that another driver is responsible for your crash.

Other Information Used to Establish Fault for Car Accidents in Orange County, FL

There are many ways to establish fault for your car accident. The following are all examples of evidence that can be used to support your potential lawsuit:

Evidence from the Scene

First, evidence from the scene may be used to prove another driver is to blame for your accident. For instance, broken car parts from the scene may be matched with a defendant’s vehicle to identify them as the at-fault party. Further, open liquor bottles at the scene of your crash may help demonstrate that the other driver was impaired when the collision happened.

In addition to physical evidence, photos from the scene of your accident may also be helpful when proving fault. For example, photos of your badly damaged car may be used to show that the other driver was traveling at illegal speeds when your accident occurred.

Photos from the scene of your crash may also help discredit the defendant’s alternative theory of fault. For instance, if the defendant asserts that the accident happened because of poor weather conditions, then photos from the scene showing clear weather could be used to defeat their argument.

Private Security Camera Footage

Private security camera footage can also be used to help establish fault for your car accident. Such footage can help demonstrate the events that unfolded before, during, and after your crash.

There are several potential sources of relevant security camera footage. For instance, a nearby driver’s dashboard camera may capture the events leading up to a highway accident. Further, after a collision that happens in a business’s parking lot, footage from one of the building’s security cameras may show how it occurred.

Unfortunately, parties in control of relevant security camera footage may not cooperate easily with plaintiffs. It can be very helpful to have experienced legal representation by your side when collecting this evidence in your case.

Expert Witness Testimony

Expert witnesses are considered experts because they have completed the necessary education, training, and experience in their specific fields. They can be called on to explain complicated theories of fault. For example, after an intersection accident, an accident reconstruction expert may be called on to identify the at-fault motorist. You may consult with our legal team to find the right experts to support your case.

Car Accident Victims in Orange County, FL Can Call Our Law Firm for Help

Seek guidance from our experienced Orange County personal injury lawyers by calling The Law Offices of David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. at (954) 751-4258.