One of the biggest questions that people find themselves facing when they have gotten into a car accident is whether or not to call the police. There are many reasons for not involving the authorities. Some feel that the accident isn’t serious enough to warrant their involvement, and for some, there is hesitation because someone involved in the accident does not have proper insurance coverage. Regardless of the details of the situation, it is always a good idea to contact the police so that an official report can be prepared and filed.
Protect Yourself
No matter how minor the accident, it is important to formally document the details at the scene. If you choose not to do this, you run the risk of dealing with inaccurate recollections of the accident, or people being dishonest about how the accident occurred or the amount of damage their vehicle sustained. A police report will help you to verify what actually took place, especially if someone takes responsibility for the accident and accepts liability. When the officer completes report, it is important that you review it to make sure that you agree with the version of events that has been recorded.
A Report Helps the Insurance Company Determine Fault
When filing an insurance claim, the company will investigate to determine which party was at fault. A police report can be of great assistance to you, especially if you have made sure that the details correspond with what you are reporting.
You Will Need It If You File an Injury Claim
If you have sustained injuries from a car accident and you plan on filing an injury claim with the help of a car accident attorney, winning your case will be difficult without a police report. Laws vary depending on where the accident took place, but part of proving that you should be compensated for injuries is proving that the other person was more responsible for the accident than you. Although having one is not mandatory when filing a claim, when you contact a personal injury attorney for representation, he will ask for a copy of the police report because it is official documentation of what took place. If the accident ends in tragedy and someone involved dies, loved ones may choose to hire a wrongful death attorney to seek damages, and what the police officer documents on the scene will be very important to the case.
Hopefully you will never have to use this information, but in the unfortunate event that you are involved in a car accident, just remember that it is always a good idea to contact the police and file an official report. Doing so can save you a lot of time, money and aggravation, and a reputable car accident attorney can provide valuable guidance to successfully navigate the process.
This blog was submitted by Pacific Attorney Group.