Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Crash Reports

Under Florida law, you are required to remain at the scene of an accident and notify law enforcement through 911 in the following circumstances:

• A personal injury has occurred
• A death has occurred
• The incident has caused $500 or more in property damage.

In practice, most accidents will fall into one of these three categories. If you can, take your own pictures of the accident, including signage, medical injuries, weather conditions, and skid marks. This evidence helps pursue your claim and aid the attending officer in all Florida traffic accidents.

You should also exchange information with the other driver(s) and any witnesses. Take the time to call your insurance company to report the accident.

It is a crime to leave the scene of the accident anywhere in the county, whether in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, or St. Petersburg.

The other driver may refuse to cooperate or deny liability for an accident. It is always best to avoid involving yourself in a conflict. Wait for the investigating officer to arrive and assist them in their investigation.

You will have the opportunity to put forth your side of the story, and the officer will record their interpretation.

A denial of liability can slow down the claims process, but it does not mean you cannot receive the justice you deserve. Allow your insurance company and auto accident attorney to guide you through the process of seeking compensation.

How long does it take for the report to be available?

According to the FL DMV, crash reports must be filed, if self-reporting, within ten days of an accident. If you are waiting for an official police report in Hillsborough County, FL, it can also take up to ten days to become available.

A 60-day exemption on public disclosure applies to all types of crash reports. Typical turnaround times depend on the availability of attending officers and how busy your local police department or highway patrol station is.

The fastest way to receive your report is either in person or online. Mail applications can take four to six weeks, meaning your report may already be in the public domain when you receive a response.

After completing a Hillsborough County police report lookup, you may find inconsistencies or inaccuracies within the report.

Your Hillsborough County crash report may contain errors and omissions. Police officers are human and are often under severe time pressures. It is your right to contest any information you flag within a Hillsborough County Sheriff's accident report.

The type of error will determine how you contest the information provided. For example, if the officer has made a factual error, such as an incorrect driving license number, attend your nearest station and request that the error be rectified. Your driving license is sufficient evidence to show that a mistake has been made.

Transcription errors and omissions are best corrected by contacting the investigating officer and politely speaking to them about the issue. Note that unless you have firm evidence, the officer is not required to alter the information they have recorded.

If you are disputing the information in your HCSO crash report, seeking professional legal help is the best course of action, as disputes could lead to a trial to determine liability.