After a car accident in Palm Beach County, police will typically investigate the accident and make a report. Victims have a right to their police crash reports so they can pursue compensation.
While you have a right to your police report, obtaining one is not always the easiest process. Fortunately, Palm Beach County makes requesting a copy of an accident report relatively simple. For the most convenient option, you can make your requests online. However, you can also obtain a copy of your report in person or by mail if you do not have internet access. Be aware, however, that there is usually a copy and processing fee for each request made.
If you need help getting your police report after a car accident in Palm Beach County, our car accident attorneys can help you process your request. Call The Law Offices of David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A., today at (954) 568-3636 for a free assessment of your case.
How You Can Get a Police Report for a Car Accident in Palm Beach County, FL
When victims are injured in a car accident in Palm Beach County, Florida law provides them and their attorneys access to the police crash report for up to 60 days following the accident. Your police report was likely made by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), which means you will have several options to obtain a copy of your police report, including requesting it online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys can help you with your request to ensure there are no delays in getting your police report.
Online Requests
Victims of a Palm Beach County car accident will have two options to get their police report online. The first option is to request it directly from PBSO’s online portal. You can create an online account for free, after which you will be able to input your accident information so your request can be processed. The other option is to request it from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) online portal.
Phone Requests
You can also request a copy of your police report by phone if PBSO was the agency that made your report. PBSO has five different locations that can help you with your police report request.
In Person
You may also visit any of PBSO’s stations or substations during their business hours of 7:30 am to 6:00 pm to request your police report in person. You can find the locations and hours you can visit on PBSO’s “Our Communities” section of their website.
Alternatively, you can request your police report in person at the Florida Highway Patrol station nearest to where your accident happened. Be sure to call ahead to ensure you can make your request in person.
Whichever option you choose, you will need to submit a Sworn Statement to Obtain Crash Report to receive your police report. Your sworn statement must include the pertinent information regarding your accident, including the date, time, location, and report number. Our personal injury lawyers can help you fill out your statement, so your request is processed as quickly as possible.
Mail-In
Lastly, a copy of your police report can be obtained by mail if you are more comfortable with that option. Requests for records from PBSO can be sent to the following address:
- Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Attn: Central Records
3228 Gun Club Rd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
You may also mail a request to FLHSMV at the address listed below:
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Crash Records
2900 Apalachee Parkway, MS 28
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Your mail-in request should include the sworn statement mentioned above and payment in the form of a check or money order. Our West Palm Beach car accident lawyers can help you prepare your request and ensure that all the information needed is accurate.
How Soon Are Police Reports Available After a Car Accident in Palm Beach County, FL?
While there is no set time for how soon a police report will be available after a Palm Beach County car accident, Florida law requires them to be produced in a reasonable amount of time. In most cases, Florida law enforcement agencies must submit their crash reports to FLHSMV within ten days of the accident. Thus, your police report should be available at the latest ten days after your accident. However, do not hesitate to call our personal injury attorneys if your report is unavailable after 10 days. We can help you determine why there is a delay and how to correct it.
If you made your request online, your report will be available as soon as you receive notice that your request is complete. If you made your request by mail, it could take weeks before your request is processed.
Do Police Reports for a Car Accident in Palm Beach County, FL Cost Money?
Unfortunately, police reports are not free for Palm Beach County car accidents. If you request your report from PBSO, the costs will depend on the time and effort it takes their records unit to process your request. However, the first ten pages of a request are free, as is the first 30 minutes of personnel time. After that, one-sided paper copies are 15 cents each, and double-sided are 20 cents per page. Personnel time also goes up to almost 31 dollars per hour to process the request.
Depending on the size of your police report, the fee could be higher than expected. Thus, it might be better to make your request through FLHSMV. Requests for a police report from FLHSMV costs 10 dollars per report with a two-dollar nonrefundable fee.
For online requests, payments can usually be made using most major debit and credit cards. A check or money order is generally the preferred method for mail-in requests. Our personal injury attorneys can help you determine the size of your police report and how much your request might cost.
Our Palm Beach County, FL Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
If you were recently injured in a car accident and need to get your police report, our Miami car accident attorneys can help. For a free case review, contact The Law Offices of David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A., today at (954) 568-3636.
