After a car crash in Florida, a police officer will respond to the accident scene and fill out a report. However, police do not always show up after a car accident.
When that happens, and the injuries or damages are minor, most of the motorists involved drive away after exchanging insurance details, and never bother to file a police report. Such people do not know that a police report can be a crucial document in clarifying personal injury claims.
So, how does a police report help in a personal injury claim or lawsuit?
A Police Report Helps your Attorney in Building the Case.
Your personal injury lawyer should carry out their own investigation of the accident.
While the police report’s sole purpose is to report what happened, it can prove helpful in the event of a personal injury claim or lawsuit. The report contains vital information that can help your lawyer evaluate the validity of your claim.
Some of the information included in a police report include:
- The date, time, and location of the accident.
- Information about the vehicles involved.
- The contact information for the drivers’ involved and their statements.
- Names of car insurance companies or coverages
- Witness statements
- Notes regarding injuries
- Citations
- Photos of the crash scene and damages to property and bodies
- A diagram or hand-drawn sketch to show a big picture of the accident
- A statement from the investigating officer’s
With all these details, a police record makes it easy for your attorney to learn your case quickly. This, in turn, helps them offer accurate legal advice.
In addition, the police could also make it easy for your lawyer’s accident reconstruction expert to reenact the sequence of events.
It Makes Settlement Negotiations Easy for Both Parties.
A police report is one of the primary documents that insurance adjusters will ask for when investigating a Florida car accident. They will put great weight on this report when establishing fault.
Without it, it is not easy to make settlement demands as your personal injury case will be based on your word against what the other driver or their insurance company has to say.
Having a police report, on the other hand, can make settlement negotiations a breeze. The report will provide hard evidence and show important details, including speed limit, weather conditions, witnesses, and anything else that can help determine fault.
Useful in Giving Testimony at Trial
If your case goes to trial, the police officer who filed your accident report may have to testify in the courtroom. Because the officer has special training in providing a solid crash evaluation and observations, the judge or jury will rely on what the officer says when determining fault.
Other Than Clarifying Personal Injury, why Else do I Need to File a Police Report?
The use of a police report is not confined to personal injury claims and lawsuits.
Under § 316.065, drivers must report an accident to the local police department if the crash involves bodily injury, property damage of over $500, or death. Failure to fulfill this legal obligation may lead to criminal penalties.
Besides, reporting an accident helps the government collect accident data, conduct research, and develop effective ways to mitigate accidents.
Our Orlando car Accident Attorney can Help you file a Police Report.
If you or someone you love was injured in an automobile collision, our Orlando car accident attorney would handle the police report for you. Send us an email or call us today at 888-522-0222 to book a free consultation and learn how we can hel