How To File A Police Report In Broward County, Florida

Filing an accident report after being in a car crash in Broward County is more than just a formality. It’s a very important step for protecting your legal rights, especially if you’ve suffered serious injuries or significant property damage. Accident reports provide an official record of what happened, helping to establish key details such as fault, road conditions, witness statements, and the extent of the damage. For victims pursuing compensation through insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits, working with a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can make this documentation even more essential.

Under Florida law, specifically Florida Statute §316.066, drivers who are involved in a crash anywhere in Florida must file a police report within 10 days if the accident resulted in:

• Any type of injury
• Death
• A vehicle is inoperable or damaged to the degree that a tow truck must remove it
• Involvement with a commercial vehicle

Failing to report an accident when legally required can lead to legal complications and penalties, and delays in your ability to recover compensation. Fortunately, Broward County offers several convenient methods for filing a report, including online, in-person, by mail, and over the phone options. If the accident occurred outside a city’s limits but within Broward County, these options are available. At the Hollander Law Firm, we want to ensure that car accident victims in our community understand how to file a police report in Broward County after an accident, thereby protecting their rights and ensuring they follow the law correctly. This information enables accident victims to select the option that best suits their situation, while ensuring compliance with state law.

If you are involved in an emergency, such as an accident that results in injuries, death, or severe property damage, you must call 911 immediately. Emergency responders will ensure that medical help is provided and that a law enforcement officer is dispatched to file an official report at the scene.

How to File a Police Report Online in Broward County, FL

Currently, there is no publicly available option to file a police or accident report online directly through the Broward County Sheriff’s Office website. While some jurisdictions in Florida offer online portals for filing certain types of reports, Broward County does not currently provide detailed instructions on how to file a Broward County accident report or an online submission form for accident reports.

If you are unsure about how to proceed or want to confirm the most up-to-date options, it’s best to contact the Broward County Sheriff’s Office directly at 954-831-8900. A staff member can guide you on the appropriate steps to take based on the type and severity of the crash, and whether your situation qualifies for an alternative reporting method.

How to File a Broward County Police Accident Report by Mail

Suppose you need to file a police report by mail after being in a car accident in Broward County. In that case, you can do so by completing a Driver Report of a Traffic Crash through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). This is a good option for those who have been in accidents in Broward County that do not require an immediate law enforcement response, such as minor crashes with no injuries and limited property damage. If you’re wondering how to file a police report in Broward County, just follow these step-by-step instructions to complete and file your report by mail:

• Visit the FLHSMV Website – Go to the official Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.
• Search for the Crash Portal
  • At the top of the homepage, locate the search bar, which is in the white portion of the top of the page, above the menu items.
  • Type in “Crash Portal” and click on the magnifying glass icon to start the search.
• Click on the Correct Result
  • The first result should be titled –  “Traffic Crash Reports – Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles”
  • Click on this link to access the Crash Portal page.
• Scroll to “Report A Crash” Section
  • On the Crash Portal page, scroll down until you find the section labeled “Report A Crash.”
  • Under this section, find and read the subsection titled “Self-Report By Mail.”
  • This section contains detailed guidelines on how to file your report correctly and thoroughly through the postal service. 
• Download the Report Form
  • In the “Self-Report By Mail” subsection, click on the red link that reads “Click here to download the Driver Report of a Traffic Crash.”
  • This will open a PDF form in a new tab that you can download, print, and fill out.
• Complete the Crash Report Form
  • Use a black or blue pen to fill out the form completely. You need to read through the crash report form carefully and follow all instructions. You’ll also need to provide detailed information such as:
    • Insurance information for all parties involved
    • Make, model, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of each vehicle
    • Exact location or intersection, as well as the time and date of the crash, when the crash occurred
    • The driver’s license number of each involved driver
    • A diagram of the accident and a written statement describing what happened
    • Other information about the crash 
• Sign and Mail the Completed Form
  • Sign the bottom of the front page, and know that it is a serious crime in Florida to file a false police report.
  • Make a copy of the completed form for your personal records and for insurance purposes, to show proof that you filed a police report in Broward County after your accident.
  • Mail the original report/ the wet ink version to the following address:

Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
Self-Report Crash Team
2900 Apalachee Parkway, MS 28
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Filing a police report in Broward County through the mail accurately and promptly is a vital part of protecting your rights to compensation as well as ensuring you are compliant with Florida law. This mailed crash report form becomes an official record and may be needed during insurance claims or legal proceedings.

How to File a Police Accident Report in Broward County by Phone

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Broward County and need to file a police report, you can do so by calling the non-emergency line for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Dial 954-764-HELP (4357) to speak with a dispatcher at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office who can guide you on how to proceed. Depending on the circumstances and severity of the crash, they may either provide instructions for filing your own report, either by mail or online, or send a law enforcement officer to the scene.

In emergencies, you must call 911 immediately. These situations include those when there are:

• Visible injuries
• A risk of fire
• Significant damage is blocking traffic
• Unable to move vehicles out of traffic

Emergency responders will make sure that injured parties receive immediate medical care and are transported to the hospital if needed, while the Broward County Sheriff’s Office secures the scene and manages traffic.

If a deputy is dispatched to your accident scene through the non-emergency line, they will ensure that all necessary information is gathered and the crash report is completed. It will then be filed with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office once the investigation is complete, which may take up to 14 days, depending on the severity of the collision. This accident report will typically include the same information that would be provided by the driver in the accident report form when filing by mail. However, this report would also be filed, along with the responding officer’s commentary and any citations issued.

How to File a Broward County Police Accident Report in Person

If you prefer to file a police accident report in person, you can do so by visiting one of your local Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) locations. For those who want to go directly to the main office to file a police report in Broward County, you can visit:

Broward Sheriff’s Office
2601 West Broward Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Please note that the BSO website does not list hours of operation for each location, so it is strongly recommended that you call ahead before visiting your local office to confirm their availability. This helps ensure that someone will be available to assist you before you spend time traveling to the office. Calling in advance can also help you verify whether your accident qualifies for in-person reporting and what documentation you should bring with you when filing the report.

How Long Do You Have To File A Police Report After An Incident?

Under Florida Statute §316.066, drivers who are involved in certain types of crashes are required to make sure that a Florida Traffic Crash Report, Long Form, is submitted to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 10 days of the incident. Suppose a law enforcement officer responds to the scene. In that case, they will investigate to determine the cause of the accident and complete the report on your behalf, provided the crash meets any of the following collision criteria:

1. The crash resulted in death, personal injury, or complaints of pain or discomfort from anyone involved.
2. The crash involved a violation of Florida Statute 316.061, which refers to leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, or 316.193, which refers to driving under the influence.
3. A vehicle was rendered inoperable after the crash and required a wrecker to remove it from the scene.
4. The crash involved a commercial motor vehicle.

Suppose law enforcement does not respond to the scene, which is typical in the case of minor accidents with no injuries or significant damage. In that case, you are responsible for filing your crash report. In these situations, you must submit a completed Driver Report of a Traffic Crash to the FLHSMV or file a police report in Broward County within 10 days of the date of the accident.

Need Help Filing A Police Report In Broward County?

Timely reporting is not only required by law but is also important for documenting the event accurately. If you need help filing your Broward County accident report, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Hollander Law Firm, especially if you plan to file an insurance claim or pursue compensation later on.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Broward County, don’t hesitate to make sure your accident report is filed properly and on time to protect your rights to compensation as well as ensure you aren’t violating the law. Whether you’re reporting online, by mail, in person, or over the phone, following the correct process is very important to protecting your legal and insurance rights. If you’re unsure where to start or need more information on how to get a police report or how to file a police report in Broward County, contact the Hollander Law Firm to make sure everything is handled correctly. Your report could be the key to securing the compensation and support you deserve.