Why You Should Never Skip Out On the Police Report
In many accident cases, people assume that they can just go and receive medical treatment, but it’s not that simple. You don’t want to forget one of the most important steps in the process after you have sustained an injury: filing a police report. If you plan to seek compensation for your injuries, then filing a police report is one of the best things that you can do, as it can essentially strengthen your case for the future. If you’re concerned about how much you will be able to collect in damages, then the police report is completely necessary.
The one reason why many people do not file a police report right off the bat is that they are not experiencing symptoms of an injury right off the bat. The problem is, though you do not have symptoms of an injury immediately after the accident occurs, it could start to show symptoms either days, weeks, or months in the future. If you file a police report and take the chance to document your symptoms, then you will have an easier time receiving compensation when you make your case. This is why, even if you believe an accident was minor, you should file a police report.
Information You Shouldn’t Forget
Aside from the fact that it could protect you and help your case later on down the line if your injuries start to present themselves, a police report can help in many other ways as well. For instance, it could help if the other party starts making false claims about the accident later on. It could also protect you if the other party admitted fault but then changes their mind as time goes on. A police report basically encases your accident in stone so that the insurance companies and the court can look back on what truly happened in your case.
Immediately after an accident has occurred, you should always check to make sure that you and the other parties are able to move and see if anybody needs urgent medical attention. From there, you will call the police and your police report will be made once they show up and witness the accident. There is some information that you should never forget to include. In fact, you should be as detailed and accurate as possible, making sure, to tell the truth through the entirety of the report. Include a description of what happened, the number of passengers in the other driver’s vehicle, name, and insurance information of the other driver, names of witnesses who saw the accident, and injuries you believe you’ve sustained.
The officer on the scene will collect your information and submit the report to their department. They could issue traffic violations to the other party if they were found to be at fault. This will come in handy later on when you go to court and want to show that the other party acted negligently, causing your accident.
There are many elements that play a role in car accident cases. You want your case to be taken as seriously as possible, which is why it is vital to be clear and precise about the information in the police report when you speak with officers. At the Los Angeles Injury Group, we have experience in car accident cases and want to see you succeed in your case. Give us a call today at 310-954-7248 about how we can help in your case specifically, and help you gain the compensation you deserve.
Sources:
https://www.dmv.org/insurance/how-to-file-an-accident-report-with-the-police.php
https://www.losangelesinjurygroup.com
Note: This post has been derived from the use of secondary sources and the information provided has not been independently confirmed. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident. Any inaccuracies will be swiftly corrected once they have been brought to the site’s attention and all requests to remove posts will be honored.
Disclaimer: This post is intended to provide general information to our readers and to honor the victims of everyday tragedies. We do not wish to cause any disrespect and none of the information contained in this post should be construed to constitute legal or medical advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and cases often turn on minor differences in fact. Do not rely exclusively on any of the information contained in this post and seek further assistance from a legal or medical professional, where necessary.