How to Get Your LAPD Traffic Collision Report

How to Get Your LAPD Traffic Collision Report

One of the most critical pieces of information you can have for your car accident case is a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Traffic Collision Report (TCR). You may also hear it referred to as a Los Angeles traffic accident report or a Los Angeles accident investigation report. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and individual cities also similarly have TCR.

A TCR is vital because it holds key information about the parties involved in the accident, identifies witnesses, indicates if the vehicle is owned or operated by a business, insurance information, and more. A TCR also provides the officer’s conclusion of what happened based on the physical evidence of the vehicles as well as driver and witness statements. Finally, it will include any other factors that contributed to the collision, such as weather, road conditions, cell phone use, an impaired driver, and on and on.

As you can see, the TCR is a great piece of the investigation puzzle and that is why it is so important to obtain the TCR as soon as possible after an accident. The first rule, however, is to make sure an officer arrives on scene to prepare a TCR for your accident, so always be sure to report your accident to the authorities and demand a TCR.

Now, assuming a TCR is available for your accident, how do you go about obtaining it?

Under California Vehicle Code 20012, the following people can obtain the TCR:

• the driver or drivers involved, or the guardian or conservator thereof;
• the parent of a minor driver;
• the authorized representative of a driver, or to any named person injured therein;
• the owners of vehicles or property damaged thereby;
• persons who may incur civil liability, including liability based upon a breach of warranty arising out of the accident;
• and any attorney who declares under penalty of perjury that he or she represents any of the above persons.

The last category is important because the easiest way to obtain a TCR is to engage a car accident lawyer to obtain it for you with your permission. The Dominguez Firm has been handling car accident injury cases for over 30 years in the Greater Los Angeles area and its car accident lawyers and staff are adept at obtaining TCR at the earliest time possible, which is a huge advantage.

Otherwise, the procedures for obtaining a TCR depends upon whether the accident involves a fatality, arrest, or a juvenile. If it does, then the TCR can only be obtained through U.S. Mail. If not, then the TCR can be obtained online or through the U.S. Mail.

To obtain a TCR online, click here and input the information as prompted.

To obtain a TCR through the U.S Mail, send a completed TCR request PDF form and a $30 check or money order made payable to LAPD to:

Los Angeles Police Department
Records and Identification Division
P.O. Box 30158
Los Angeles, CA 90030

Because of the complexities of car accident cases, you are at significant disadvantage to the powerful insurance companies if you do not enlist the help of a powerhouse law firm that has aggressive, skilled car accident lawyers to take the fight to them. With thousands of vehicle accident cases successfully resolved, The Dominguez Firm has the reputation and resources here in Greater Los Angeles to take the fight to the insurance companies. If you’ve been injured, give us a call at 800-818-1818 to talk with one of our car accident injury lawyers. If there is no recovery, there are no fee or costs.