If you were hurt in an accident, the insurance companies might demand a copy of the police report. You might also want one for your own records. But getting it can be complicated.
Typically, a driver or injury victim does not need to get a copy of their crash report themselves. Your lawyer can do that for you as part of your case. However, if you do want to do it yourself, the Oak Park police department has an online portal for requests.
Call (312) 598-0014 for your free case evaluation with the Oak Park personal injury lawyers at Rhatigan Law Offices.
How Do You Get a Crash Report Online?
The Oak Park police department has an online portal through “Police to Citizen.” This is a commonly used system that police departments use across the country to manage requests for police reports and car accident reports.
You can sign up for this system online, with links available through the Oak Park PD’s own website. This usually costs $5 per report.
Can You Get a Police Report Other Ways for a Car Crash in Oak Park?
Other methods might be available as well.
By Mail
There are no specific instructions on their website for getting the report by mail, but if this is your only way of getting a report, call the Oak Park PD for help.
In Person
Requests can be made in person at the Police Department within Village Hall.
What Goes Into a Police Report for a Car Accident?
The following info is usually contained within a police report for a car crash in Oak Park:
Redacted Info
In some cases, such as reports involving serious injuries or juveniles, the records might actually be redacted. This blocks out the names and contact info of the parties or information about their serious injuries. You often need a judge’s order to get a full, unredacted police report in these cases.
Officer’s Observations in Narrative Form
The officer will write down what they saw as they came upon the scene. Note that this usually takes place after the crash, so any reports will really only contain a record of what the people involved told the officer happened.
However, the officer will be able to observe things live, like what cars were involved, what injuries were sustained, and where the crash was.
Info on Who, What, When, and Where
The most important elements of the crash that the report contains state who was involved, what cars were involved, when the crash happened, and where it took place.
This is all something you might already know as someone involved in the crash who was able to stay at the scene and talk to the other drivers and witnesses to get their contact info.
Diagram of Crash Scene
The officer also typically draws a diagram of the crash. It lists which cars were involved, what orientation they were in, what direction they were traveling, and what signs or signals were present on the road.
Is a Police Report Good Evidence in a Car Accident Case?
Generally, you cannot even use a police report as evidence in a crash.
Crash Reports Inadmissible Under Illinois Law
These reports are barred from being used as evidence in a car accident case. You can use them for other purposes – such as building your case or helping the officer on the stand remember what happened – but you cannot introduce the report as evidence of what happened.
Officer Probably Didn’t Witness Crash
This makes sense, since the officer likely did not see the crash happen. Officers typically respond to the crash after you call them, so they would not have even seen the crash. Everything about who hit whom would be relayed secondhand from witnesses.
Hearsay is Inadmissible
This kind of secondhand information is known as hearsay. Specifically, hearsay is a statement made out of court, offered in court for the truth of the matter asserted in the statement. For example, if the officer wrote down that the “Witness said the red car hit the blue car,” and we tried to introduce that as proof that the red car did indeed hit the blue car, it would be hearsay.
The report itself, plus the statements within the report, are hearsay and hearsay within hearsay.
What Other Evidence Can You Use?
Aside from the police report, our lawyers can help you get other evidence for your claim:
- Photos of the scene
- Dashcam footage or security footage
- Medical records
- Financial records
- Vehicle damage appraisals and repair records
- Medical bills
- Proof of your pain and suffering
- And more.
Are There Ways to Legally Use a Car Accident Report?
A police report cannot be admitted as evidence, but there are legal ways of using a police report without actually admitting it as evidence. These uses may be permitted:
- We can use it to find out who was involved and talk to them about the accident.
- We can use it in court to refresh the officer’s – or any witness’ – recollection about what happened.
- If it contains prior statements, and witnesses later testify differently, we can use the statements in the report to challenge them about whether they changed their story or misremembered information. This is known as “impeaching” a witness with a prior recorded statement.
When is a Police Report Ready?
Police will typically finish their report and submit it within 2 weeks. If the report is available, you can typically get it immediately after requesting it online. Getting it in person or through other means may take longer to find, access, and print the report.
Can You Make Copies of a Police Report?
If you get the report online, you can print and make copies as you wish.
Call Our Oak Park Car Accident Attorneys for Help
For a free review of your potential case, call the Illinois personal injury attorneys at Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 598-0014.
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