A Police Report Can Help You With Your Accident Claim
Posted on: 13 November 2019
After a car accident, it's standard to call the police and have the incident documented in the form of a police report. While this document is the first step in proving that the accident occurred, the report can also be used to prove your claims about the accident. Learn how to use the police report to your advantage.
Highlighting Fault
A key element in any accident claim is proving fault. In many states, a declaration of fault will determine who is responsible for the collision and, therefore, who will be left to foot the bill for the cost of any property damage and medical bills. The officer on the scene will typically include a narrative of the accident on the report that might explicitly determine fault or allude to it without making a firm determination. Your attorney can use this information.
Area Conditions
The condition of the road and weather is an important factor that typically comes into play with an accident claim. For instance, if it was raining outside at the time of the accident and the ground was slippery, the officer will include this information in the report. As a result, in the event the other driver was speeding, the attorney for the victim of the accident could use information about the conditions of the road to argue that the driver was being negligent by speeding and should, therefore, be found responsible for the accident.
Witness Contacts
In the moments after an accident, the last thing a person is typically thinking about is getting the contact information of any nearby witnesses. However, as an accident claim progresses, having the information of someone who was able to see exactly what happened is helpful. Within the police report, the officer on the scene will identify any witnesses as well as get their contact information. An attorney can then use this information to collect further information for the claim.
Injury Documentation
While a medical report from a medical provider is an important part of proving injuries after an accident, the details in the police report can also be helpful. For example, if the accident victim was taken to the hospital by ambulance due to a head injury, this information will be documented in the report. In combination with medical records, the injuries reported in the police report can help make the process of proving your injuries easier.
When it comes to a successful auto accident claim — evidence is key. From a police report and beyond, an auto accident attorney can help you collect the evidence you need.
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