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Perhaps one of the most important pieces of evidence in a car accident case is an accident or police report.

When you get into a crash, the responding officer usually fills out a report that contains several details about the incident.

This includes injuries, vehicle damage, road conditions, and more. In some cases, they may also include a preliminary investigation into the cause of the accident.

For this reason, it’s essential that you get a copy of your report soon after the incident.

Here’s what you need to know about requesting Santa Monica accident reports.

Three Ways to Request a Santa Monica Police Report

Most accidents within the city of Santa Monica are handled by the Santa Monica Police Department. If they respond to your crash and file a report, there are three ways you can get a copy. 

In-Person

All involved parties may request a copy of their Santa Monica accident reports by visiting the Public Safety Facility. To make the process easier, make sure you bring your photo ID.

You also need to provide as much information as possible to help locate the record, such as the date and location of the accident.

Once you submit your request, the police department must respond to it within 10 days. The fee is $0.20 per page, with most accident reports costing around $1.

Online

A convenient way to obtain Santa Monica police reports is to create an account through the Santa Monica Office of the City Clerk. This allows you access to the Public Records Request Center.

Once you sign in to your new account, just follow these steps:

  1. Create a Public Records Request.
  2. Select “Police” under the “Division and Department” field.
  3. Enter as much detail as possible (date, time, and location of the accident; incident number; etc.).

After submitting your request, the Santa Monica Police Records Unit will contact you to request a fee. The current cost for a hard copy of a report is $0.20 per page.

By Mail

If you don’t have access to a computer or can’t visit in person, you also have the option of ordering Santa Monica accident reports by mail.

All you need to do is fill out a Law Enforcement Records Request and send it in a self-addressed envelope to the following address:

Santa Monica Police Department

Attn: Records Unit

333 Olympic Drive

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Be sure to include a check or money order made out to the Santa Monica Police Department. The fee for requesting a report by mail is $3, but be sure to check with the Records Unit for any updates on pricing.

Need Help Getting Your Accident Report? Call Weinberg Law Offices

If you get into a Santa Monica car accident, you don’t need to go through the claims process alone.

At Weinberg Law Offices, we help manage the entire process and can help obtain copies of all necessary documents. To schedule a free consultation, give us a call at 818-697-1079 or contact us online.

We happily serve clients throughout California from our headquarters in Los Angeles.

Disclaimer: This content should not be construed as legal advice.

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As a personal injury attorney, my mantra is that there is no such thing as a “small case”. I will give 100% matter how big or small a case may be. I am fluent in English, Hebrew, and Spanish, languages which I use regularly in my practice.