The first thing you should do after any motor vehicle accident is call the police, but many people wonder why this is important, especially if there are no major injuries or property damage appears to be minor.
Below you’ll find out about how important the police reporting process can be to your auto accident claim.
Determination of Fault
One of the most valuable benefits of getting a police report is that the police will make an initial determination of fault. The police are experienced in gathering evidence at the accident scene and analyzing it to better understand who was responsible for the accident.
While the police’s assessment of fault is not the only factor that goes into determining who is responsible, it can offer valuable support for your case and serve as evidence that the other driver was at fault.
Statute of Limitations
Because there are statutes of limitations, or time frames within which you can file a lawsuit for an auto accident, police reports are necessary. They establish the date of the accident to make sure you and your Car Accident lawyer stay on schedule with deadlines.
A Record of Accident Details
A police report also provides details about the accident that can be useful if you take legal action. Information about the accident itself, involved parties, witness statements, and contact information for both witnesses and the other driver are all included in a police report.
If this information is included in the accident report, you can be more confident that you won’t be blamed if the accident wasn’t your fault. You can also rest assured knowing that you have the contact information you need in the future.
Issues with Police Reports
Although police reports can be extremely useful, they can also cause problems if they include inaccurate information, errors, or are vague about what happened during the crash.
If you notice issues with your police report, it’s in your best interest to contact a personal injury lawyer to get a free consultation and a clearer sense of your legal rights. Do this as soon as possible after the accident.
Now that you’ve learned about the importance of police reports after an accident, download our free personal injury recovery kit to find out more about your next steps, or book a free consultation with an accident lawyer.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is a general guideline made available for educational purposes only and is not intended to be used as legal advice for the reader's specific situation nor in general. By reading our blog and website content, the reader acknowledges the above and understands there is no lawyer-client relationship created between you and Himelfarb Proszanski through this content. To get specific legal advice, we encourage you to book a free consultation with one of our lawyers to clarify the legal aspects of your situation.