Once you’ve pulled over and exchanged information with the other driver involved in a car accident, you might not want to wait around for the police to arrive. Depending on the time of day and the availability of police, this could take anywhere between 10 minutes to more than an hour. However, it’s important to speak with a police officer at the crash scene.
The only exception to this rule is if police cannot come to the scene because they are too busy dealing with other matters. If you find yourself in this situation, and there are no injuries or substantial property damage involved, you may drive away. But you should be sure to call or visit your local precinct and ensure an officer creates a police report of the incident.
A valuable resource at your disposal
While it is true that police reports are not admissible in court, more than 95 percent of all personal injury claims get settled without litigation. A police report can be a valuable tool as you seek compensation from an at-fault party or an insurance company, as it provides a law enforcement officer’s credible opinion on who or what was responsible for a car accident. It also serves to prove that a crash actually took place, leaving the responsible party unable to argue that you could have sustained your injuries or property damage in some other way.
Police reports, while no infallible, provide some extra peace of mind and support for those injured in motor vehicle crashes. To learn more about how you should proceed after a serious car accident in Florida, meet with a skilled Bradenton personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.