If you get into a car collision in Las Vegas, it is crucial to inform the correct authorities about the crash to obtain a car accident report for the record. This report is a legal requirement for certain accidents. It can also serve as a key piece of evidence during your car insurance claim.
How to Get a Police Report After a Car Crash in Las Vegas
You can obtain a car accident police report after a crash in Las Vegas by calling 911 from your cell phone while you are still at the scene. This will contact the nearest law enforcement office, which will send officers to your location to investigate, gather evidence, and document the scene in an official report.
If your car accident is minor, the police may not send anyone to the scene. In this scenario, you will need to report the car accident to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles yourself within 10 days. You can do this by filling out Form SR-1 (Report of Traffic Crash) and mailing it to the regional DMV office at 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711.
Ways to Obtain a Copy of Your Car Accident Report in Las Vegas
Accident reports filed by the police in Las Vegas are available 7 to 14 days after the accident. Before you undergo the process of requesting your car accident report, you will need to collect the following information: your crash report number, last name, and the date of the accident. The crash number will start with “NHP.”
You can get a car accident report in Las Vegas in the following ways:
- Online request: go to CrashDocs.org to conduct an online search for your police report. You can request copies of your report electronically after paying the required fees.
- Over the phone: call the police precinct in the county where the accident occurred and give them the requested information to obtain a copy of the report.
- By mail: print the Request for Report document, fill it out completely, and mail it (along with other required documentation and payments) to: “Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department/Attn: Correspondence Section/400 S. Martin Luther King Blvd./Building C/Las Vegas, NV 89106.”
- In-person: find your local station or visit the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Headquarters, Records & Fingerprint Bureau, in person to request your report.
- For fatal accidents or official photographs: contact one of the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol’s Regional Offices. There is a $5 fee for photos.
You may need additional documentation to retrieve a copy of a police report in some circumstances. You will have to pay a fee of $12 per crash report. Traffic Collision Reports in Las Vegas are typically delivered using a secure link via email. Incident Reports are delivered via mail or can be picked up in person.
The Importance of Reporting Your Car Accident
Reporting a car accident is a legal requirement in Nevada if it causes bodily injury, death or more than $750 in apparent property damage. Even if your car accident appears minor, however, reporting it to law enforcement can help you with the insurance claims process. You can use the police report as evidence during your case.
A car insurance company will ask to see your police report for key information about the crash. The report will include details such as the date, time, and location of the accident; the names and contact information of all involved parties; whether one of the drivers was in violation of the law; and the police officer’s opinion on the cause of the crash. This information can be used to help you prove your car accident case against another driver.
If you need assistance obtaining your police report or proving your case, contact the attorneys at Valiente Mott for a free legal consultation.