Personal injury cases can turn on the smallest of details. Every single piece of evidence can be far more important than it appears, and the accident report is just one aspect of a case that can affect the outcome. These documents hold information needed to file a legal action, but there is more to an accident report. Read on to learn more.
Accessing the Report
The way you get your hands on the report depends on where the accident occurred. Increasingly, state patrol (state troopers) who respond to wrecks have the means to create and print a report from their cruiser. If not, you should make contact with the appropriate law enforcement agency, such as the city or the county if the accident occurred on a rural road. Some agencies charge a small copying fee and some offer an opportunity to have the report mailed or emailed to your home.
Read the Report
Once you have it, be sure to check it over carefully for errors. Check names, spelling, dates, times, car makes, insurance information, and more for accuracy. Unfortunately, once an accident report has been created it cannot be changed. You can, however, have corrections added to the report by using a form. One part of the accident report that cannot be amended is the accident summary. This is the responding officer's summary of the way the accident happened and is based on preliminary information obtained at the scene. In some instances, the findings of the report may be faulty. While faulty findings might mean more problems with the insurance company, accident reports are not admissible in court. Be sure to let your personal injury attorney know about the faulty finding, however.
Use the Information
In most cases, you will find that the accident report contains all the information you need to get your legal case started. Obtaining a copy before you speak to a personal injury lawyer means that you'll get your case off to a quicker start when you provide your attorney with the report. Most reports will include the contact information for all parties, insurance information, the names of witnesses, and more. In some cases, the information can give a real boost to your chances at proving fault. For example, if the other driver was ticketed for a traffic violation at the time of the accident, that shows fault and produces clear evidence of that fact.
The accident report is an important part of your personal injury case. For help with your personal injury claim, contact an auto accident attorney right away.
