How To Read Your New York Car Accident Report

An experienced lawyer who gets results in NYC

When police officers respond to a car accident in New York, they will do several things. They will secure the scene to make sure everyone stays safe. They will get medical attention for anyone that is seriously hurt. Another thing they will do is complete an accident report. This report can be an important piece of evidence when you seek financial compensation for your injuries.

That’s why you need an experienced New York car accident lawyer on your side. Attorney David Leigh of The Leigh Law Firm, P.C. knows how to use the information in your accident report – known as the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Police Accident Report – to build a strong case for compensation that insurance companies have to take seriously.

How to get a copy of your New York accident report

There are a couple of different ways. You can order a copy by contacting the law enforcement agency that responded to your crash. Or you can order a copy online from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. It may take as long as a few weeks before the report is available. You will be charged a fee. You can also have your attorney request it on your behalf.

When you get your copy, carefully review the report to check all information. If anything seems inaccurate or questionable, make a note of it. Then talk to a lawyer. Attorney Leigh can go over the accident report with you and help you understand what it means for your case. For example, the report may note whether the other driver was cited for speeding or driving under the influence. There may also be information about road and weather conditions.

Insurance companies will be looking at the report, also. They are looking for information they can use against you. As a former insurance defense lawyer, attorney Leigh knows how insurance adjusters think and the tactics that insurance companies use to try to limit your compensation. And he knows how to help his clients fight back against these tactics to recover the compensation they deserve.

Fight back with an experienced car accident attorney

Our firm conducts our own investigation of your case to get the facts. This involves gathering evidence, reviewing your accident report and other documentation, and interviewing witnesses. If needed, we consult accident reconstruction experts and other specialists who can help us prove negligence.

Injuries suffered in an accident can affect you physically, emotionally, and financially. Attorney Leigh is committed to helping you recover compensation and is not afraid to put in the hard work needed to get the results you need, whether that’s through a negotiated settlement or a jury award.

If you were injured in the New York City area, it’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible. In New York, the statute of limitations for taking legal action is three years from the date of your accident. But we can build a stronger case the sooner we can get started.

Learn more about how we can help. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. Attorney Leigh can review the details of your accident, explain your options for recovering compensation and answer any questions you have.

This section provides some basic facts about the crash, including the date, time, number of vehicles involved, and number of injuries and fatalities.

These sections provide information about each of the drivers and vehicles involved in the crash (another form may be used if more than two vehicles were involved). The officer will include each driver’s name, contact information, and license number. Each vehicle’s make and model, year, and license plate number will also be recorded. If a driver was issued a citation, that will also be noted here.

In the middle of the page, there is space to record the location and severity of any vehicle damage. An accident diagram will note the direction of travel for each vehicle.

This section will note the location of the crash, including the county, city, and street. The officer will also note the exact coordinates, if available.

Click here to download a printable PDF of these instructions.