Were you recently involved in a car accident in St. Louis? If you suffered injuries because another driver was negligent, any evidence you can obtain to support an eventual personal injury claim can make a difference in your long-term outlook.
One key source of information in car crash claims is the official accident report, also called the police report. The official record can provide key details about the collision that could be beneficial to your claim. It is worth filing an accident report request with the appropriate agency as soon as possible to secure the accident report regarding the collision you were in.
Are you not feeling up to tackling this yourself? If you are dealing with serious injuries and stress from a crash, that is more than fair. You have plenty going on already.
Turn to the law firm of Sumner Law Group, LLC, for help instead. Our St. Louis car accident lawyers can request police reports and gather other evidence, such as medical records, to support your claim and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today to arrange a free consultation and learn more about how our St. Louis car accident lawyers support injured victims throughout the legal process.
Where Can I Request a St. Louis Police Accident Report Online?
When you call 911 after a collision, different police departments or agencies may respond based on where the accident occurred.
In St. Louis, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will most likely respond to crashes within city limits, but in some situations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol may respond.
In the county, the responding department will likely be the St. Louis County Police Department or a municipal police department. Which department or agency responds to the crash will dictate which department you contact for an accident report.
For your convenience, all the major police departments allow motorists to at least begin the process of accessing their official police reports online:
- St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
- St. Louis County Police Department
- Missouri State Highway Patrol
What Information Do I Need to Obtain a Crash Report in Missouri?
All you need to request a police accident report from any of the major departments or agencies is your personal information and some details about the crash, such as the date on which it occurred, as well as your reason for requesting the report.
If you have the report number, which you may have received from the responding officer at the crash scene, that information can also be helpful.
How Much Does It Cost to Get an Accident Report in St. Louis?
The major departments all charge nominal fees for accessing accident reports. The City Police charge 10 cents per page, plus a prorated fee of $15 an hour for records retrieval. That usually costs less than $5 overall, though some cases may cost slightly more.
The County Police charge $6.50 per report, while the Highway Patrol charges $6 per report.
How Long Does It Take to Receive a St. Louis Accident Report?
Missouri accident reports are not typically available immediately after the crash. The responding officer takes the notes from the accident scene and must use them to prepare the official report. St. Louis MPD accident reports are typically available after five days or so. County and Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports are generally available 10 days after the crash, although recent backlogs and high demand may extend the wait time.
Can I Request a Missouri Crash Report by Mail or in Person?
While the major local police departments in the St. Louis area all make it possible to initiate accident report requests online, many of them still require you to actually submit those requests in person or by mail.
The City and County Police both require in-person or mail submissions, with the County requiring the additional step of having mailed requests notarized. The Highway Patrol allows you to print and mail your request along with the fee.
Why Do I Need an Official Accident Report After a Car Crash?
Given the volume of other evidence that may be available after a car accident, you might wonder whether you really need the police accident report, or if it would just be a nice thing to have as a backup during legal proceedings.
While the accident report is not decisive evidence, it can provide critical information about the crash. It serves as an official written record of the collision. After a car crash in St. Louis, the responding law enforcement officer documents key details such as the date, time, and location of the crash, the names of the drivers involved, the names of any eyewitnesses, and their observations from the scene.
The responding officer’s report may also include diagrams of the crash, statements from the parties involved, and notes about any relevant road conditions or visible vehicle damage. Keep in mind that the observations are simply the law enforcement officer’s opinions about the accident. The courts have final say about determining fault under Missouri law.
All of this information can provide an important reference point when questions arise later in a car accident case. Insurance adjusters review these reports when evaluating insurance claims, and they can help confirm basic facts about the crash.
While the responding officer’s conclusions do not automatically determine who is legally responsible for the accident, the official report can still provide useful documentation when building a personal injury claim or resolving disputes with the other driver’s insurance company about what happened.
Can an Attorney Help Me Obtain a St. Louis Accident Report?
Given everything else you have going on after an auto accident, having an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney take care of obtaining the car accident report can take a load off your shoulders. Our attorneys regularly handle the car accident claims process and are familiar with the local departments’ specific processes. We can submit requests correctly and efficiently while you focus on healing.
If you are dealing with injuries and lost income after a car accident, do not try to feel your way through the aftermath on your own. The attorneys at Sumner Law Group, LLC, have over 50 years of combined legal experience and a long track record of securing multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for individuals harmed by others’ careless actions.
Contact our office now for a free consultation to discuss your car accident injury claim with an experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer and discover how we can provide the support you need as you pursue compensation.
