Significance Of a Police Report In A Motor Vehicle Accident 

Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of personal injury and property damage in the country. 

Many auto accident victims make the error of not contacting the police following an accident and obtaining a copy of the police report. 

Many victims usually believe that if the damage to their cars is minor or they have suffered few or no injuries, it is unnecessary to report an accident to the police. 

However, these individuals could be in for a rude shock if they discover that the damage to their vehicles is more severe than they had anticipated or if they start to experience symptoms of an injury in the days or weeks after their accident. 

You may be eligible to receive compensation depending on the nature and severity of the injury and your circumstances.

When seeking compensation for motor vehicle accident injuries, you may need a copy of the police report to file a claim with your insurance company or file a lawsuit in court. 

After an accident, drivers must:

· Call for emergency care

· Move their vehicle out of the way if they can

· Offer help to those in need

· Call the police to report the accident

· Provide contact and insurance information to the others involved in the accident

What Is A Police Report? 

A police report is an invaluable document that provides a detailed account of all elements of an accident. 

The police report plays a pivotal role in determining fault in an accident. 

Police officers undergo training to document their observations and actions in a police report. 

Once you report the accident to the police, a police officer comes to the scene and makes a report of the incident. This report summarizes the information the officer collects. It contains the accident-related facts and the officer’s personal opinion. 

Police reports may have the following information: 

· Names of parties

· Addresses and contact information of the parties

· Make and model of the vehicles 

· License plate numbers

· Insurance information for all drivers

· Witness statements and their contact information 

· Weather and road conditions at the time of the accident

· Photographs of the scene or traffic camera footage

· Information regarding citations that a police officer may issue to the at-fault party for traffic law violations. 

The police report may even include a diagram of the accident scene. 

Most reports do not place liability on anyone. Insurance companies hire adjusters to oversee and conduct investigations.

Even in a minor car accident, a police report is substantial evidence to protect your legal rights and support any future insurance and legal claims. 

Significance Of A Police Report

Insurance companies and lawyers rely on the police report’s information to determine liability and further action. 

It is crucial evidence that provides the insurance company with information regarding your claim. 

Insurance companies use these reports when they investigate claims. 

It helps assign responsibility for damages or injuries. 

A police report is an impartial third-party account by a police officer that summarizes the police’s interpretation of the accident and who bears responsibility. 

The absence of a police report can weaken a compensation claim.

The police report helps your attorney demonstrate causation or the relationship between the accident and the injuries for which you claim compensation. 

Police reports are admissible as evidence in a car accident lawsuit — but only in certain instances and jurisdictions. A police officer’s opinion may or may not be admissible as evidence in court. 

How To Obtain A Police Report? 

Police reports are official records. Law enforcement authorities preserve and retain these documents for the benefit of the public. 

People involved in motor vehicle accidents can go to a police department, identify themselves, and request copies of police reports. You can also request a copy at the accident scene or obtain it online. 

It takes between ten and fifteen days for your report to be ready. 

Attorneys can get police reports on behalf of their clients. 

Contact A Nationwide Car Accident Lawyer Immediately

The evidence you present in your personal injury claim is critical to getting the deserved compensation.

Consulting with a personal injury lawyer is the best way to gather the evidence necessary to get compensated for your injuries and other damages. Police reports are vital to this process. 

An insurance company will look for any excuse to dispute your claim.

The police report makes it difficult for the at-fault party and their insurer to argue against your claim. 

The police report gives your attorney the leverage they need to recover compensation quickly and with minimal disruption to you. 

At Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers, we help you secure the financial resources to overcome your injuries, repair or replace damaged property, and hold guilty parties accountable for their negligence.

Nationwide car accident lawyer Bart Bernard has extensive experience dissecting these reports. Attorney Bernard knows how to use this information strategically in personal injury cases.

Remember, an insurance adjuster may not work for you, but your car accident lawyer will.

Contact our national personal injury law firm about your motor vehicle accident today.