After a car accident, you need to know how to get a car crash report in Federal Way, WA. You can file online, via mail, or make a request in person to the Federal Way Police Department.
You can also make an online request to the Washington State Patrol. An even easier approach is to connect with a Federal Way car accident lawyer who can request the report and manage your claim from start to finish.
Why You Need to Get a Car Crash Report
The system of pure comparative negligence in Washington State plays a major role in determining how much compensation you can collect for a car accident. All victims can seek damages. The amount they collect is reduced by whatever percentage of fault they hold for the crash. If you are assigned 50% of the blame, you can only collect 50% of your calculated settlement.
To get the compensation you deserve, you need evidence to show the other side acted negligently, and that you did not. A car accident report is evidence. Getting a car crash report is part of the evidence-building process.
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Information Included in a Crash Report
Responding officers will include all contact information for the parties involved in the accident, along with vehicle information. If witnesses saw the crash, officers can add their statements. The report includes factual details, such as the date, time, and location of the accident, and the weather and traffic conditions.
Though a crash report is not the final word on negligence, the officer’s narrative can contribute to that determination. The report includes a description and diagrams of what happened. It documents a driver’s traffic violations. If the report shows a driver was speeding or drove through a red light, those details can support claims of negligence.
A Car Crash Report Can Help You Recover Compensation
Motor vehicle crashes can produce severe injuries. These injuries come with high costs, significant pain, and unwanted life changes. If you are a motorcyclist involved in a crash, your risk for severe and catastrophic injuries is even higher.
You are also more likely to face bias from insurance representatives who often perceive bikers as lawbreakers and aggressive drivers. A Federal Way motorcycle accident lawyer can fight against those unfair perceptions and their potential to deprive you of the compensation you deserve.
Getting a Car Crash Report from Federal Way Authorities
To get a copy of a report online from the Federal Way Police Department, you can click on the Public Records Request Center. Then click the New Request box on the Federal Way Public Records Request page, and then the “Police Records” box.
You’ll get to a Police Records Request document you can complete electronically. The City has 5 days to process your request.
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How to Get a Report from the Washington State Patrol (WSP)
You can get an Accident Report from the King’s County website by clicking the WSP link to search for an accident report, which takes you to the Washington State Patrol website. Washington’s State roads have a heavy presence of semi-trucks. If your crash involves a truck, get help from a Federal Way truck accident lawyer.
A lawyer can conduct an investigation to discover whose negligence caused the crash. The truck driver may be to blame, but the truck company, mechanic, inspector, or manufacturer could also bear fault. Determining negligence in truck accidents is a complex process.
To search for a report through WSP Collision Report Search, you’ll need a collision report number or case number, or a collision date range. You’ll also have to pay a fee of $10.50 to buy the report. The officers who responded to your crash and made the report should provide you with the collision and case numbers.
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Washington’s Law for Reporting Crashes
According to the King’s County website, you must file your own car crash report in the following situations:
- Authorities did not respond to the scene or investigate your accident, and
- There were injuries sustained, or
- Property damage exceeds $1,000
You have 4 days to file with the State Department of Motor Vehicles, and can make the report by following the WSP link to file an accident report.
How an Attorney Can Help You After a Car Crash
The easiest way to get a car crash report in Federal Way, WA, is to partner with an attorney who can do the legwork for you. Your time and resources are better spent focusing on your recovery. An attorney can handle all aspects of your car accident claim. We know how to investigate accidents, value losses, deal with insurance companies, and manage legalities.
Partnering with an attorney quickly supports a successful claim. For one, evidence is more accessible and less likely to get lost if we get to work fast. Further, the car crash statute of limitations in Washington is 3 years. Missing this deadline could cost you the opportunity for justice.
We Can Handle Your Car Accident Needs
You don’t have to worry about getting a car crash report in Federal Way, WA. The team at Siegfried & Jensen can handle that for you.
We can take care of your case completely and will fight to secure the highest compensation available. Our team is committed to holding negligent parties accountable and upholding injury victims’ rights.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
