How to Get a Police Report After a Car Accident in Wheeling, WV

Among the first things you should do after a car accident is obtain a police report. This is an important document that insurance companies and other interested parties use to determine what happened, who was at fault, and who might be entitled to compensation.

Getting a police report in Wheeling, WV, is a relatively straightforward process. In this post, we discuss the steps involved, go into more details about why a police report is important, and explain how to file and amend a police report. If you were injured in an accident and not at fault, call our West Virginia car accident lawyers for a free consultation.

Getting a Police Report

Police in Wheeling, WV, must investigate any car accident that involves death, injuries, and or apparent property damage of at least $1,000. They also must file a report detailing the results of their investigation within 24 hours. 

To request a copy of a police report:

Contact the Appropriate Police Department

If the accident happened in Wheeling, call the Wheeling Police Department’s non-emergency line at (304) 234-3661. If you give them the date of the accident, names of the drivers, and other key information, they will provide you with a report. 

The procedure is different for accidents that occur on a highway or interstate, where the WV State Police have jurisdiction. Call them 304-746-2128, or mail in a Crash Report Request Form. If you call, you will probably need to go pick up the report at the police station.

Pay for the Report

Because of administrative costs, there is a small fee to obtain a police report, whether you get it from the Wheeling Police Department or the WV State Police. The State Police will charge you $20 plus $1 per page extra for every page over 50, and the Wheeling Police Department will  charge a small fee.

Why a Police Report is Crucial

Because vehicle accidents can lead to litigation and insurance claims, it is important for everyone to know exactly what happened. This includes what vehicles were involved, what the weather was like, whether anyone was injured, etc.

A police report provides an account of what happened according to the investigating officer and helps establish who was at fault. Insurance companies need this information to process any resulting claims or disputes between a vehicle owner and an adjuster.

The police report also provides important evidence during settlement or court proceedings. All of the parties and their attorneys will thoroughly examine the report and compare any statements it contains with the parties’ later statements about the incident for any inconsistencies. If the report indicates that one of the drivers was cited for a driving infraction or was negligent, this also will influence settlement negotiations and the trial if the case goes to court.

How to File a Police Report

In West Virginia, drivers involved in an accident in which there are injuries or someone dies, and/or at least $1,000 of property damage occurs, must report the incident. The report must be made to the local police station if it happened in a city or town, and to the West Virginia State Police or county sheriff if it occurred on a highway.

An accident in Wheeling, WV, that meets the above criteria should be reported to the Wheeling Police Department over the phone or in person. It cannot be reported online.

As previously mentioned, police officers responding to such an accident will prepare their own report. They will come to the scene, talk to the drivers and any witnesses, observe the conditions, and try to determine what happened.

If an accident does not involve death, injury, or property damage of at least $1,000, you are not required to report it. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend that you do so, because some injuries do not present themselves until hours or days later. Moreover, it can be hard to estimate how much damage was caused and the cost of repair.

The West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles requires drivers to report an accident when someone dies or is injured, or when there is at least $500 worth of property damage. 

Finally, due to the stress involved, it is completely understandable to make a factual error in a police report. All you have to do is call the law enforcement office where you filed the report and ask how to correct it.

Don’t try to navigate the car accident process alone – if you were injured, call our personal injury law firm to pursue fair compensation. We would be happy to provide a free consultation.