In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, many people are reluctant to call the police. They may believe the police will place blame on them for causing the crash, or think that they can work things out with the other driver without law enforcement officer involvement. However, the truth is that calling the police is very important, even if the crash seems relatively minor at first.
Police officers are trained to investigate exactly what happened in an accident and create a police report. This document is different from a citation in that it is meant only to record the facts and the officer’s belief as to who was at fault. A police report contains a number of relevant details, including the factual details about the date, time and place of the accidents, the names of those involved, a description of the conditions of the road, statements from the drivers and the extent of the injuries and property damage.
This document can prove extremely valuable should the accident require one or more parties file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Often, insurance companies will rely on police reports to determine fault, and this, in turn, could decide whether or not your claim is approved. Additionally, if either party should contest the facts of the case, that person may file a lawsuit to collect compensation for any injuries or property damage. Attorneys are likely to use police reports as evidence related to the details of the collision and why it occurred.
If you are ever involved in a car accident, make sure to call the police as soon as possible. After that, meet with a skilled personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh in Florida.