How to Obtain a Car Accident Report in Tampa, FL

March 22, 2023 | Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident

A car accident can be unsettling, and you may be left wondering what to do and to whom you need to report the incident. If you called the police after a car collision in Tampa, the responding officer will fill out an official police report of the car accident.

This report is a very important document, as it contains evidence about the collision that your insurance company and your Tampa car accident lawyer can use to build your case against the at-fault driver.

An Overview of a Car Accident Report

Immediately at the scene, the officer’s priority is to get medical attention for those who need it and then write up the incident and collect evidence.

You should have received a card with the officer’s name and a case number for your collision and can use that information to request a copy of the police report, usually available three to five days after the crash.

The police report is a comprehensive document that contains everything one would need to know about a crash, including:

Drivers’ names, license numbers, and other information
The date, time, location, and road and weather conditions of the accident
Who was injured and how badly
Damage to the vehicles

The report usually contains an officer’s narrative of the crash, giving their insight into how the crash occurred. It also usually has a graphic sketch of the collision, showing the impact area.

Requesting a Copy of a Tampa Police Car Accident Report

Per Florida law, all police report requests made within 60 days of the accident must have a sworn statement attached by the requester stating they are a party of interest to the accident, a copy of their photo ID, and proof of the exemption to allow you to have access to the report.

These requirements are necessary because for the 60 days immediately following a car crash, Florida accident reports are considered confidential documents and only available to certain interested parties.

This would include the following:

Parties involved in the accident
Representatives of the parties involved
Each party’s insurance carrier
Each party’s car accident lawyer
Qualified media persons

This law is intended to protect car accident victims from solicitations while they are healing from the wreck.

How to Obtain Your Accident Report from the Tampa Police Department

The Tampa Police Department’s Records Section provides specific instructions to obtain the police report online, by mail, or in person. The cost for the report can be up to $2.00/ copy and certified for an additional $1.00.

Obtaining Your Car Accident Report Online

Visit the Tampa Police Department website and click on the Traffic Accident Police Report Request, which you can submit online. The sworn statement can be notarized by a notary public or certified by a law enforcement officer.

Obtaining Your Car Accident Report by Phone

Call the Tampa Police Department Headquarters at (813) 276-3250 and ask for the Records Section. Press 6 to talk to a records clerk.

Obtaining Your Car Accident Report in Person

You can go to the Tampa Police Headquarters, located at:

One Police Center, Records Section (2nd floor)
411 N. Franklin Street
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday

Obtaining Your Car Accident Report by Mail

If you cannot come to the department, you can submit a request in writing and include the following:

Copy of your driver’s license
Case number
Notarized or certified sworn statement
A check for $2.00 payable to Tampa Police Department
A self-addressed, stamped envelope

Mail your request to:

Tampa Police Department Headquarters
Attn: Records Section
411 N. Franklin Street
Tampa, Florida 33602

Have You Been Injured in a Car Accident?

If you have been injured in a traffic collision that you did not cause, an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer can help you file a claim for damages.

Contact the Tampa Car Accident Law Firm of Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today

For more information, please contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Tampa today. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and Lakeland.

We proudly serve Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, and its surrounding areas:

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
601 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 223-6200

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
600 Bypass Dr Suite 224-D, Clearwater, FL 33764
(727) 493-4418

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Office
111 2nd Ave NE Suite 350, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 314-5988

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
5006 Trouble Creek Rd Unit #200, Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 910-5060

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Lakeland Office
1543 Lakeland Hills Blvd Suite 18, Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 251-6196