Car accidents in NYC can be incredibly damaging, and victims need access to compensation. Before that can happen, it’s important to obtain a copy of the police report for your accident. But how much will that cost you, if anything?
Police reports for car accidents in NYC can cost money. In some instances, like when a victim retrieves a report from the correct precinct’s police department in person, reports are entirely free. However, it’s not always possible for victims to go in person, so they may decide to request a report online or by mail. Both of these options cost upwards of $20 and require victims to pay using the proper payment methods. This can be a confusing process, so it benefits you to enlist the help of a skilled car accident lawyer in NYC.
The Carrion Law Firm understands the significance of accessing police reports in NYC. That’s why our team of experienced Hempstead car accident lawyers is here to help you obtain yours. Call the NYC car accident lawyers at The Carrion Law Firm for a free case evaluation today at (718) 841-0083.
Do You Have to Pay for Police Reports in NYC?
After you get into a car accident in NYC, the police officers who respond to the scene will likely complete a crash report, which can be beneficial in a lawsuit. Car accident victims in NYC may wonder whether or not they’ll have to pay for access to police reports.
Police reports contain important information regarding a car accident. They can be helpful to a lawyer, like those at The Carrion Law Firm, if you intend to sue a negligent driver for compensatory damages.
Accessing police reports tends to cost money in any city, including NYC. That’s because officers have to take the time to complete the report, and it must be filed often physically and digitally. This uses resources on various levels, so it costs money to access police reports.
Luckily, the fee is usually relatively low and may be nonexistent depending on how a victim accesses their report. Police report costs vary from city to city, state to state, so car accident victims in NYC need to know how much it will cost them to access their specific police report.
How Much Do Paper Copies of Police Reports Cost in NYC?
In certain circumstances, police reports in NYC won’t cost car accident victims a cent. Paper copies of police reports retrieved from the correct precinct’s police department are often free to car accident victims in NYC.
While paper copies of police reports are free in NYC, retrieving them can be a hassle. First, car accident victims must travel to the right precinct’s police department. That may mean you have to do some research based on where your car accident happened. Second, victims must then visit the police department in person. Although your police report will be free, you’ll have to commute to the right location, within the police department’s hours, to access a free copy of a police report.
Not to mention, it can be difficult for car accident victims in NYC, or those who live outside of the city, to go to a police department in person to retrieve a paper copy of a police report. However, these paper reports being free to victims may be the incentive you need to make the journey.
With the help of a Brooklyn car accident lawyer, like those at The Carrion Law Firm, car accident victims in NYC can request a paper copy of their police report in a different manner. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in New York can send you a paper copy of a police report upon request. These mailed reports cost $25. You may need help filling out some of the required forms to make a request, so having a lawyer by your side is beneficial.
How Much Do Digital Copies of Police Reports Cost in NYC?
Unlike the paper alternative, digital copies of police reports cost money. In NYC, car accident victims can request a digital copy of their police report through an online portal. In this case, there are two fees victims are responsible for, so being aware of them is important.
The DMV tends to hold digital copies of accident reports throughout the state for up to four years after an accident. NYC car accident victims can visit the site to order a digital copy of their police report for download. There’s a $7 search fee and a $15 fee for the report itself, totaling $22.
Although requesting a digital copy of a police report is more expensive than getting a paper copy in person, it can be more convenient. Going online allows you to have a digital copy that you won’t lose or misplace. Accessing these reports digitally is also easier if you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident in NYC and cannot visit the police department in person. How you choose to access a copy of a police report in NYC is up to you, but having all of the necessary information regarding cost is necessary.
How Can You Pay for Police Reports in NYC?
Knowing how much police reports cost in NYC is one thing, but knowing which payment method to use is another. So, how can you pay for police reports in NYC?
Well, if you’re accessing a report in person at the precinct’s police department, you don’t have to worry about using the correct payment method. In-person reports are free to car accident victims in NYC, after all.
You can use a credit or debit card to pay the $22 fee if you’re accessing your report online. Car accident victims in NYC must pay via money order or check for paper copies sent by mail. Payments for mailed reports have to be made prior to receiving the report.
If you are having difficulty making payments online or understanding how to send payments by mail for a police report, an experienced Queens car accident lawyer, like those at The Carrion Law Firm, can help you. Accessing your police report can be essential to your potential lawsuit’s success, and economic barriers or other difficulties shouldn’t prevent you from obtaining it.
Our Lawyers Can Help You Get a Police Report in NYC
Getting a copy of a police report for a car accident in NYC can help support your claim for compensation against a negligent driver. For a free case evaluation, call the Brooklyn car accident lawyers at Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys today at (718) 841-0083.