If you found yourself in an Indianapolis car accident that wasnโt your fault, you deserve compensation for the damages you suffered.
To do so, you will likely need to file a claim with the other partyโs insurer or file a lawsuit in court. If you are thinking about filing a claim and gathering relevant information, you should learn about Indianapolis car accident reports.
Indianapolis accident reports are a crucial component of any claim arising out of a car accident reported in Indianapolis. Why? Because Indianapolis police accident reports are the official record of what happened in the accident.
As such, your IMPD crash report will end up as one of the most consequential pieces of evidence in your claim. Thatโs why it is so important to know what it says. Without it, how can you and your attorney effectively prepare for your case?
Of course, before you or your lawyer know what the accident report says, you need to obtain a copy of it. Different jurisdictions have different methods of getting car accident reports to affected individuals. Indianapolis is no different. We will explain exactly how you can obtain a copy of your own Indianapolis police accident report.
How Do I Know If I Need an IMPD Accident Report?
Whether you will need an IMPD car accident report depends entirely on which law enforcement agency responded to your accident.
You will need to make your request through the agency of the reporting law enforcement officer. So, if your accident happened within Indianapolis city limits, you will need to contact IMPD to get a copy of your report.
Conversely, if your accident happened in unincorporated Marion County or on an interstate highway, you would need to contact the Marion County Sheriffโs Department or the Indiana Highway Patrol. This piece will focus specifically on obtaining IMPD accident reports.
Requesting Indianapolis Accident Reports Online
One way you can get car accident reports in Indianapolis is through an online portal. The online portal is not administered by the city of Indianapolis itself. Instead, IMPD contracts with a private company to manage all police reports, including car accident reports. The service is called BuyCrash.
To obtain a copy of your accident report through BuyCrash, you will need to fill out an application on the BuyCrash web portal. There, you will need to provide the following information:
- Your first and last name,
- The state in which the accident occurred (IN),
- The local jurisdiction in which the accident occurred (listed as INDIANAPOLIS PD),
- The date of the accident,
- The location of the accident,
- The accident report number.
Reports from BuyCrash typically cost $11 by default. They may cost more if the relevant police department charges more, but the fees cannot exceed any state-imposed limits. BuyCrash can email you a copy of the report or send it via USPS.
If you donโt know the relevant information by heart, donโt worry. The responding law enforcement officer should have given you a card after responding to your accident. That card should contain all of the relevant information, including the responding officerโs name or badge number.
If you never got the card or canโt find it, you can call IMPDโs non-emergency line at 317-327-3155 for help. If you have trouble with the web portal, consult BuyCrashโs detailed instructions or chat with a customer service representative.
Obtaining Your Indianapolis Police Accident Report In-Person
The second way you can request and obtain your IMPD crash report is in-person. The process is relatively straightforward. All you have to do is visit the IMPD office located at 50 North Alabama Street, E100, Indianapolis.
The office is open between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday. You will need to provide the following information to make a successful request:
- Your first and last name;
- The date and approximate time of the accident;
- The state, city, and location of the accident; and
- If you have it, the name of the investigating officer.
If you donโt know the name of the investigating officer, the people working at the IMPD office can help you. In some cases, just your first and last name is enough to pull up your report. IMPD reports requested in-person cost $12.
Get the Compensation You Deserve
At Gerling Law Injury Attorneys, we have helped victims of Indianapolis car accidents get the compensation they deserve. If you didnโt break it, you shouldnโt have to buy it. And thatโs why we are here.
Over the years, our experienced team of car accident attorneys has helped people recover from just about every type of car accident imaginable. It doesnโt matter if the accident is big or small, we are here to help.
Whether you need help understanding the contents of your accident report or are having trouble negotiating with the insurance company, we are here for you from start to finish.
You deserve the best results possible, so go with the experienced team that can deliver those results. Go with Gerling. Call Gerling Law Injury Attorneys today or contact us online to book your free consultation!