Surprise Crash Reports

If you experienced a car accident in Surprise, Arizona, and officers from the Surprise Police Department were present, you have several avenues to acquire a copy of the police documentation: online, via phone, directly in person, or through the mail.

Online:

1. Navigate to the Public Services Portal and establish an account.
2. Input relevant details like the incident date, venue, and the associated report number.

Phone:

1. Dial the Surprise Police Department Records Division at (623) 222-4000.
2. Furnish them with the necessary accident details.
3. The fees can be settled using a credit card, company check, or money order.

In-Person:

1. Head to the Surprise Police Department Public Service Center, located at 14250 W Statler Plaza Suite 103, Surprise, AZ 853741.
2. Operational hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., from Monday to Friday, excluding state holidays.
3. Present a legitimate photo ID.
4. Fees can be covered using cash, a credit card, company check, or money order.

Mail:

1. Forward a descriptive written plea inclusive of the accident details and a pre-stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Surprise Police Department Records Division, P.O. Box 9490, Surprise, AZ 85374.
2. Enclose a payment via a company check, cashier's check, or money order directed to the City of Surprise for the requisite fee.

In Arizona, while accident documents are typically available to the public, they come with specific limitations and exclusions. As per Arizona Revised Statute §28-667, the use of accident reports for business solicitations is forbidden. This implies that one can't access these reports solely to pursue a commercial or business connection with any accident participant. Additionally, the Arizona Revised Statute §39-121 states that certain public records can be either concealed or partially obscured if they encompass sensitive or exclusive details, such as individual identifiers, health records, criminal archives, or ongoing investigations. Consequently, the complete content of an accident report might not be open to everyone.

If you are involved in a car accident in Arizona, you should take the following steps:

- Check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 if anyone needs medical attention.
- Move your vehicle to a safe place if possible and turn on your hazard lights.
- Call the police to report the accident and cooperate with their investigation.
- Exchange information with the other driver(s), such as name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance information.
- Take photos of the scene, the vehicles, and any injuries or damages.
- Get the names and contact details of any witnesses who saw the accident.
- Seek medical attention if you have any symptoms or injuries from the accident.
- Notify your insurance company as soon as possible and file a claim.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer if you have any questions or concerns about your legal rights and options.

The investigating law enforcement body and their processing time determine how soon you can access your accident report in Arizona. For incidents on interstates or state highways looked into by a DPS trooper, a waiting period of roughly 14 days is standard before you can approach the Department Records Unit for a report copy. On the other hand, if your accident took place on city or county roads and the Surprise Police Department was in charge, expect to hold off for a minimum of five working days prior to asking the Records Unit for the report. To get updates on your report's status, it's best to either call or drop by the respective agency.