The Importance of Police Reports in a Personal Injury Case

Many people are hesitant to call the police after a car accident. Some people are afraid that the police may place blame on them for causing the crash. Others may assume they can simply work things out with the other driver on their own. However, even if the crash seems relatively minor at first, the reality is that one of the most important things you should do after a car accident is get law enforcement involved and file a police report, also known here in the Sunshine State as a Florida Traffic Crash Report.

What Should I Know About Filing a Police Report? 

Importantly, you should understand that under Florida law, you must stay at the scene of the crash and call 911 if you are involved in a crash involving any of the following:

• A crash with injury
• A crash with fatality
• A hit and run crash
• A DUI crash
• A crash which requires a wrecker to remove the vehicle
• A crash with a commercial motor vehicle
• A crash where apparent damage is at least $500.00

That is because in these situations, law enforcement must submit a crash report.

What Should I Know About Talking to the Police at the Scene of the Accident?

If you are physically able, call the police immediately after the accident and wait in a safe location for help to arrive. Once the police get there, they will typically question the drivers, passengers, and any available witnesses. When you are questioned, ensure that you:

• Try to remain calm
• Plainly state the facts of what happened
• Do not admit fault – you likely won’t be thinking clearly in the aftermath of the accident and your perceptions can be inaccurate

Why Are Police Reports Important? 

When you are involved in an accident, one of the first questions that will arise afterward is who was at fault for the collision. The answer to this question will have a huge impact on the person who is determined to be at fault and the insurance provider for that driver. Because of attempts to avoid liability and payouts, insurance companies will often try to avoid accepting your account of how the accident occurred.

A police report is extremely valuable in a personal injury case because it provides an objective and contemporaneous factual record of what happened during the accident. When an insurance company is presented with this kind of objective written documentation from the authorities, it can be invaluable in substantiating your claim.

Obtain Legal Help to Prove Fault in Your Car Accident Case

Proving liability can be difficult to do alone but you should not worry if you don’t know what to do with your accident report after a personal injury accident. Instead, you should hire a personal injury attorney to help file your accident claim. With the help of the right legal team, you can depend on someone else to handle all of the paperwork and negotiations and ensure that you receive the highest amount of compensation possible for any injuries and damages that you may have suffered. As the Miami personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm, we offer honest guidance and advice and we fight to maximize compensation. We have the knowledge and expertise to help you win the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve after being involved in a car accident. Contact us today for a free case evaluation with absolutely no obligation.

The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Jacksonville, Tampa, Bradenton, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach areas.

Resource:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.066.html

https://www.pendaslaw.com/avoid-fall-ing-for-an-autumn-driving-hazard/