Injured in a car accident and need help obtaining your accident report? We can help. Call us at (419) 455-1410 or contact us online to ask us questions about your accident.
Being involved in an injury auto accident can be scary. The aftermath can be frustrating, including the process of dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance to file a Cleveland car accident claim.
Part of that claims process includes getting a copy of the police report.
Obtaining Cleveland car accident reports can be done online, via phone, or through the mail.
How to Get Your Cleveland Accident Report in Person
If you need to obtain a Cleveland accident report, you can go to the Public Records Office for the City of Cleveland, Ohio, during business hours for walk-in service or you can make a request by phone at 216-623-5352
How to Get Your Accident Report by Mail
You can order an accident report from Cleveland, Ohio Police by sending a letter to the Records Division at 1300 Ontario Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 and addressing your request to the attention of the Public Records department.
How to Get Your Accident Report Online
To request a Cleveland accident report online, you will need to visit the Cleveland Public Records Center and set up an account. Start by clicking on “Public Records Request.”
The system will prompt you to choose between Public Safety Records and City Government Records. Public Safety Records include police reports, so you’ll want to click on the former.
The system will request that you enter your login information. If this is your first time visiting the site, you need to create an account.
You can choose to submit your request anonymously. Unlike some other police departments, the records division will not receive your contact information if you submit your request anonymously.
Knowing that, it’s crucial to hold on to your reference number. The Cleveland Police records representatives cannot contact you directly to provide status updates.
To look for updates about your submitted request, you can click the link for “My Records Center” from an earlier screen and then click on the “Search by Reference Number.” If you accidentally lose your reference number, you’ll have to submit a new request.
If you need assistance creating an account and navigating the process of requesting a police report, the City of Cleveland has a tutorial YouTube video you can watch that will walk you through the process step by step. Or you can rely on your attorney to get the report for you.
Request a Copy of Your Accident Report
Accident Report Request Form
How Much Does an Accident Report Cost?
The costs to request copies of Cleveland police crash reports will vary. In general, copies are five cents per page and $1.00 for each 5×7 photograph or $2.00 for each 8×10 picture. You may have postage charges as well.
Where Is the Cleveland Police Department Located?
The City of Cleveland Police Public Records office is located at 1300 Ontario Street in Cleveland. You can reach them by phone on weekdays between 8 AM and 4 PM.
If you want to walk in to request Cleveland Police Department accident reports, you can only go on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, between 8 AM and 3:30 PM.
How to Read Your Accident Report
Learning how to read your police report is important. You need to verify all your contact information and accident details are correct.
If you find any inaccuracies, you will need to contact the Cleveland police department right away.
Your Cleveland crash report will document all the essential information of the accident, including:
- Contact details,
- Location of the accident,
- Vehicle information,
- Type of collision,
- The severity of the accident, and
- Other factors, such as road conditions and weather.
More detailed information about the accident will be included, including the types of damages sustained, what everyone’s injuries were, actions leading up to the collision, the sequence of events, and any circumstances that contributed to the collision.
The police will note whether any involved driver underwent testing for alcohol or drugs at the scene.
The accident report will also discuss contact information for any witnesses to the collision. This section can be crucial for proving liability against the other party. Your insurance or your Cleveland personal injury lawyer may need to take statements of any witnesses to the collision.
Contact a Cleveland Auto Accident Lawyer
While you are under no legal obligation to retain an Ohio accident lawyer to represent you, we highly recommended you retain one. At Bensinger Legal Services, we have years of experience representing clients just like you.
We know the tactics and techniques insurance companies use to deny liability or undervalue your claim. We won’t hesitate to fight the insurance company and take your case to trial if necessary.
We can also help you obtain your crash report and report any inaccuracies to the Cleveland Police Department if there are any problems. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can assist you with a Cleveland car accident injury claim.
Aaron L. Bensinger is an Ohio attorney serving personal injury and civil litigation clients. He has extensive trial experience and makes client service is his primary focus. As a partner at Balyeat, Leahy, Daley, Miller & Bensinger, LLC, Aaron happily works in Lima, OH, and serves the entire Northwest region of the state and beyond.
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