How to Get and What You Should Know About Auto Accident Police Reports
No matter how minor a car accident may seem, it has the potential to cause substantial damage. Lakeland car accident victims frequently suffer physical, emotional, and financial losses. Car accident attorneys of Moody Law, P.A., who serve individuals from Lakeland, FL, Winter Haven, FL, and surrounding areas, work with car accident victims to hold liable parties accountable for resulting damages.
Evidence is essential in establishing fault in a car crash and demonstrating the extent of accident losses. Injury victims sometimes ask, “Will a police report help my car accident case, and how do I get one?” Here, we discuss how a police report can be a crucial piece of evidence in a car accident claim and the steps to obtain one.
Is a Police Report Helpful to My Car Accident Case?
In car accident claims, all involved parties tell their side of the story regarding what led to the accident, who caused it, and what type of damages resulted from the collision. Evidence is necessary to recreate the car accident as accurately as possible so that a determination of liability can be made without relying solely on the claims of involved drivers.
A police report can serve as vital evidence in a car accident case because it is unbiased. The police officer is a neutral third party. Police officers also have a degree of expertise that adds to the validity of their report. A police report is often considered more valuable than the claims or recollections of involved parties.
What Is in a Police Report?
A police report contains several pieces of information that assist in recreating a car accident. The record includes:
- The location of the crash
- The time and date of the accident
- The names and contact information (if possible) of all involved parties
- Statements from involved drivers
- Witness contact information (and possibly a brief witness statement)
- Explanation of vehicle damages and injuries
- Environmental factors (weather, street conditions, etc.) at the time of the crash
How Do I Obtain a Police Report?
Individuals involved in a car crash should call the local police department (or 911 if severe injuries are present) from the scene of the accident to report the collision and request that an officer respond to the crash. The responding officer will speak with involved parties and record data and observations to create a report. Once a police report is filed, it is available for pickup at the police station that responded to the crash or on CrashDocs.
Per Florida law, police reports can only be released to individuals involved in the accident, their insurance company, or legal representative for the first 60 days following the crash. Our lawyers are happy to assist clients in obtaining a police report so it can be used as evidence in their car accident case.
Contact Moody Law, P.A.
Car accident attorneys at Moody Law, P.A., work with injury victims to hold liable parties accountable for physical, emotional, and financial damages related to a collision. To discuss the details of your case with our legal team and learn about the financial compensation you may be due, contact our law firm online and request a consultation.