It’s safe to say that motor vehicle accidents are a horrible thing. However, for many different reasons, people need information about them. Now, it doesn’t matter if you have been in a motor vehicle accident and you need information, or you just want to learn a few things about them, you must know where to look. This is exactly what we are going to talk about today. The most important question you have to find the answer to is this – where to find the information about the accidents? Once you find out where to look, the rest is easy.
What is a Motor Vehicle Accident Report in New York?
The MV-104 car accident report form used by the state of New York collects information regarding automobile accidents and the parties concerned. The MV-104 form needs to be submitted no later than ten days after the date the disaster occurred. It is possible to finish it online. Under ideal conditions, the authorities will write up the report on your behalf.
Nevertheless, the police do not respond to every single car accident that occurs in the metropolitan region of New York City. The accident will be recorded in the records of every driver who was involved in the collision once the report has been submitted. This in no way indicates that you are to blame. The DMV doesn’t establish fault.
How Can You Get a Copy of the New York Police Report for a Motor Vehicle Accident?
In the state of New York, obtaining a copy of an auto accident report can be done in several different methods. Buying a copy of the report through an online vendor is the method that is both the quickest and the simplest to complete. You also have the option of sending in a written request for a copy of the accident report. To obtain a copy of the accident report, you will need to fill out a Request for Copy of Accident report and submit it along with the fee. It may take anywhere from 14 to 60 days after the date of the accident for the police report on the car accident to become accessible.
You can retrieve a copy of the police collision report for your accident in New York City through the online Collision Report Retrieval Portal if it took place in that city. However, you won’t be able to access these records through the portal until a full month has passed since the incident. After thirty days, you must submit a request to the New York DMV for a copy of the accident report.
You can submit a request to the New York State Police to receive a copy of the crash report for any incident that happened on the New York State Thruway and was investigated by the New York State Police. Request a copy of the accident report from the Department of Motor Vehicles for any collisions that occurred on roads other than those specified.
If you retain the services of a personal injury attorney to manage the legal aspects of your auto accident case, the attorney will, without a doubt, request a copy of the accident report. You could ask your attorney to provide you with a copy of the police report regarding the car accident for your documents.
Why Do You Need a Car Accident Report for Your Files?
Even if you did not sustain any injuries in the collision or reached a settlement with the insurance company regarding the automobile accident claim, it is still a good idea to obtain a copy of the accident report for your documents. A report on an automobile collision will provide you with specifics about the incident that you may need to remember many years down the road.
If you were to sell your vehicle, for instance, the buyer might inquire as to whether or not it had been involved in any collisions in the past. The date, as well as the location of the automobile accident, are included in the report that was taken after the collision. Also, if you are wounded in a different car accident or personal injury accident, you are required to disclose to your injury lawyer that you have been in a previous car wreck. This is because your injury lawyer may be able to help you receive compensation for your injuries. Along with the documentation for your vehicle and the records related to your claim for personal injury, you may also want to retain a copy of the auto accident report in your possession.
There are a few sources of information regarding motor vehicle accidents you should definitely consider. Here they are.
1. Consult A Local Law Firm
Even though motor vehicle accidents are pretty common, especially in a big city like New York, getting information about them is not always a simple task. This can be a problem if you are writing a paper, researching for news, or simply need it for statistics.
However, there are a few simple ways to get this information and one of them is definitely consulting the local law firm. If you didn’t know, law firms, especially those that specialize in motor vehicle accidents can provide you with this sort of information. In case this is new to you, make sure to read more here and find out different kinds of information. You will probably have to pay for this data, but some law firms offer this information for free.
2. Visit The New York Police Department Website
One of the safest ways to find out about motor vehicle accidents in this city is to visit the New York police department website. There, you will find the official data regarding the accidents, but you should know that the information you find there is public and it’s not too detailed. However, if you need more details, you can contact the New York government and ask for permission to read the cases.
Depending on your job and credentials, they will either allow you access or refuse to do so. For example, if you are a journalist, you will be able to get the information you need. If you are a regular citizen, you will have to ask for a special permit.
3. Go To NYC Open Data
If you don’t find what you are looking for on the previous two websites we mentioned, you should definitely try visiting the NYC Open Data website. There is a special section on this site that shows you the most important information about car crashes in New York City. The interface of the website is pretty simple, therefore you won’t have any problems finding the information you need. If you encounter any problems, customer support will help you to get what you came for.
4. New York DMV
When you want to research things regarding vehicle motor accidents and traffic in general, your best bet is to visit the New York DMV website. This is where you will be able to find detailed reports about every single motor vehicle accident in this city. You can either go to your local DMV department or simply visit their site.
5. Get The Information From The NYC Crash Mapper
When people talk about sources regarding motor vehicle accidents, they usually forget about this one. NYC Crash Mapper is not as popular as the previously mentioned DMV, but it can provide you with detailed reports about car accidents in the city. Also, this website makes it more convenient for you to see where the accidents happened. It gives you an opportunity to look at the map of New York City and spot the location of the car crash. You have to admit, this is a pretty neat feature. To be fair, the reports are not as detailed as the ones you will find on the NYPD website, but they can provide you with useful information.
There are plenty of reasons why you might need information about motor vehicle accidents. However, it doesn’t matter why you need it, you should know that getting this information can be a bit complicated.
Is a Car Accident Report Proof of Fault for the Cause of the Crash?
If a law enforcement official is not present at the time of the collision, then they cannot be considered an eyewitness. Because of this, the officer can only determine who was at fault for the collision based on the information that they collect at the scene of the accident. A law enforcement official can be incorrect about the driver who was at fault for causing an accident in some situations.
An insurance claims assessor will be sent out by the insurance company to investigate what caused the collision. Your personal injury claim will be rejected if the insurance assessor concludes that the collision was caused by something that you did or failed to do. Let’s say the adjuster has the opinion that your activities played a role in causing the car accident. In such a scenario, the insurance company will reduce the worth of your damages by the laws that govern contributory negligence in the state of New York.
It is possible that getting in touch with a car accident lawyer is the most effective method for you to protect your right to receive adequate compensation for the injuries and damages you sustained. An attorney investigates the car crash to collect evidence that demonstrates how the collision took place. To get some help with the investigation, the attorney might hire a professional who specializes in accident reconstruction or another kind of expert. If the other driver was to blame for the accident, then you have a case for financial compensation for the damages. As a consequence of this, establishing liability is an essential component of a personal injury lawsuit. If you cannot establish causation, you cannot prove negligence.
The actions you take in the aftermath of a car crash can either assist or hurt your legal situation. For instance, if you apologize for an accident, the insurance company might contend that this constitutes an admission of fault for the collision, which would be detrimental to your case. Your case could suffer if you take too long to get medical attention because this would offer the insurance company a reason to argue that the collision did not cause your injuries.
In addition, consulting with a personal injury attorney before discussing your case with an insurance claims assessor can assist you in avoiding making additional errors that might be detrimental to your case. To increase your chances of getting the result you want, however, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible, keep detailed records of your injuries, and consult a lawyer.
Conclusion
The five sources we mentioned today will definitely help you to find out things about a certain case, but it will cost you something. If you ask a private law firm to give you this information, it will probably cost you money, but if you go to the NYPD, you will have to get a permit to view those reports. This information is at your disposal, you just have to know how to get it.