To find your accident report online in Georgia, you will need to utilize the BuyCrash website or the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Your accident report is a vital piece of evidence for your accident or injury claim.
If you’ve been in a crash, our Marietta car accident lawyer team can help you obtain your accident report and pursue compensation for your losses.
How Do You Find Your Accident Report Online in Georgia?
To easily access your accident report, you will need to go to the website of BuyCrash, the Georgia Department of Public Safety, or, in some cases, your local sheriff’s department. Typically, you will need to pay a small fee to access the report.
Your Marietta personal injury lawyer may also be able to obtain the report on your behalf.
Through the BuyCrash Website
The BuyCrash website is an online portal where insurance carriers, police departments, and consumers can all access accident reports. It partners with many local and state police departments, so that reports are easily accessible.
To locate your accident report online in Georgia through BuyCrash, you will need to select Georgia as the state for the report, and you will also need:
- The accident date.
- Your vehicle identification number (VIN) or the report number.
- The last name of someone involved in the accident.
- To pay a fee, which is typically between $5 and $11 dollars.
Through the Georgia Department of Public Safety
If the accident was investigated by the Georgia State Patrol, then the report may not be available through BuyCrash. Instead, you may have to do an Open Records Request through the Georgia Department of Public Safety website.
Through Your Local Police or Sheriff’s Department
If you are having difficulty locating your report, then your local police department may not be partnered with BuyCrash. If that is the case, you will need to use the records portal of your local police department’s website.
Why Is the Accident Report Important?
The accident report is often a vital piece of evidence for your personal injury claim. When an accident is reported to the police, the responding officer’s report contains information like:
- Who was involved in the accident.
- When and where the accident took place.
- Any evidence that was gathered.
- Witness statements and information.
- In some cases, the officer’s analysis of the accident and who was at fault.
All of this information can prove essential for recovering compensation.
What Needs to Be Proven to Recover Compensation After an Accident in Georgia?
To successfully recover compensation, you must be able to prove that someone else’s negligence led to your losses. To do so, your lawyer will gather evidence that shows that the four elements of negligence have been met.
These elements are:
Duty of Care
Duty of care refers to the responsibility that one party has to keep another safe. For example, every licensed driver has a responsibility to drive safely and follow traffic laws to protect others on the road.
Breach of Duty of Care
A party breached their duty of care through a careless or reckless action, such as:
- Distracted driving.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Speeding.
- Failing to yield.
Causation
The breach directly led to an accident. Examples include:
- A truck driver fell asleep at the wheel after driving outside of their federally regulated hours of service. Falling asleep at the wheel caused them to swerve into another lane on the highway and hit another vehicle.
- A driver was texting while driving. This caused them to miss a red light and strike someone else’s car at the intersection.
- A company failed to properly maintain their vehicles, resulting in brake failure. Because of this failure, a collision occurred.
Damages
You have losses that are a direct result of the accident, such as:
- Medical bills.
- Lost wages.
- A permanent disability.
What Other Evidence Is Used to Prove Fault?
In addition to the accident report, other helpful evidence for proving fault can include:
- Witness statements.
- Video footage, such as from nearby traffic cameras or surveillance cameras.
- Physical evidence, like skid marks and debris patterns.
- Blood alcohol content results or field sobriety test results.
- Phone records and GPS data.
- Expert testimony, such as from an accident reconstructionist.
- The driver’s own admission.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered After an Accident in Georgia?
Once you have an accident report and can pursue compensation, you may be wondering what losses are recoverable. You can typically recover compensation for both economic and non–economic losses.
Economic Losses
These can include:
- Medical expenses: Surgeries, emergency room visits, doctor appointments, hospitalizations, and physical therapy. You can recover both immediate medical costs as well as future expected ones.
- Job losses: Lost wages, lost job benefits, and diminished earning capacity.
- Property damage: For the repair or replacement of your vehicle and personal belongings damaged in the accident.
- Other expenses: Home or vehicle modifications, mobility assistance devices, and transportation for attending medical appointments.
Non-Economic Losses
These compensate you for intangible losses like:
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress.
- Permanent disability.
- Scarring or disfigurement.
- Loss of enjoyment.
- Loss of quality of life.
- Loss of consortium.
Contact Our Marietta Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you’re wondering how to find your accident report online in Georgia, you’re likely at the start of the recovery process after a crash. Our car accident lawyers in Marietta can help. We will handle the entirety of the legal process so that you can focus on healing instead.
At Jones & Swanson, we bring over 50 years of combined experience. Our goal is to recover the fair compensation you deserve. We work on contingency, so there are no upfront costs to you.
Contact us today to get started with a free consultation.
