Even if you have never been involved in a car accident, you have probably heard of police reports, even if you do not fully understand what they are. A police report is written by an officer of law enforcement who arrives at the site of an auto accident and includes crash-related details, as well as statements from people involved in the accident and bystanders, and other important information. You can speak to Lance D. Youd Personal Injury Law to learn more.
Insurance adjusters and attorneys frequently place a high value on the contents of a police report, especially if the officer’s conclusions show that one driver carries the majority – or all – of the blame for the car collision. As a result, a police report might be an important piece of the puzzle, that is, a car insurance claim or a car accident lawsuit.
What is a car accident police report?
A police report is a written record usually prepared at the scene of an auto accident, normally by the responding officer. The police report generally includes the following information:
- Information about the accident and the vehicles/people/property involved.
- Driver, passenger, and witness statements.
- A sketched image of the accident – location, route of vehicles, and place of collision.
- In some cases, the officer’s observations or conclusions about how or why the accident occurred.
How to get a copy of a police report
As previously stated, the officer who responds to a request for help at the scene of an auto accident creates a police report. The police report summarizes information on the crash and usually includes accident facts and the investigating officer’s opinions.
A police report can be obtained in two ways. One method will cost you money, while the other will most likely not. To receive a paid copy of the police report, contact the local law enforcement office that wrote the report. Before leaving the accident scene, the investigating officer will usually provide you a receipt with the police report identification number. Contact the traffic division of the local law enforcement organization that responded to the road accident, pay the administrative cost (typically around $15), and you should have no trouble getting a copy.
If you do not have or do not know the police report identification number, you can offer the date, time, and location of the car accident and your name to help identify the record.
To acquire a free copy of the police report, ask the insurance adjuster handling your claim if the report was requested and request a copy.
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