Why You Should File a Police Report after Your Auto Accident

Most people involved in a car accident are tempted to avoid filing a police report after an accident. No matter if they were at fault for the accident or they think they could solve the issue without the police, they face serious legal complications because of the lack of police involvement.

If you’re interested in why you should file a police report after your auto accident, you should keep reading. Our experts share important information on the topic.

What’s a Police Report?

A police report is a written document by a police officer that underlines what happened, who was involved, what damage occurred, and all important details related to the incident. A police report may range from a simple one-page document to a more detailed multiple-page report. This report receives an event number necessary if you need to make a car accident claim.

What Information Is Included In a Police Report?

A police report is based on the unbiased opinion of a police officer. He will request the following information and include it in the report:

Where the car accident occurred
The date and time of the car accident
The car registration details of the cars involved
Whether anybody sustained injuries
Whether there was any damage to the cars involved
Statements of witnesses or other drivers

Overall, the scope of a police officer filing a report is to offer an objective point of view of several factors that contributed to the car collision. Hence, it is extremely important to call the police as soon as the accident happens so that a police report is compiled.

A police report is helpful to support your claim and better your chances of receiving compensation. Also, even though you might be the driver at fault, a police report will be required by law. No matter your part of the accident, plaintiff, or defendant, a police report is useful.

Why Should You File A Police Report After Your Auto Accident?

So, the general opinion is that you should call the police if the car accident leads to injuries. But according to the law, you should still call the police even if it’s a minor collision. It doesn’t matter how severe the accident is, it is essential to get full and official documentation for your own protection.

A police officer can rapidly assess the situation and write this valuable document. And if you’re still hesitating about whether to get the police involved, here are some main reasons why you should file a police report after your auto accident.

#1 A police report will protect you from lawsuits

One of the main reasons why you should file a police report after your auto accident is the protection it offers in case of a lawsuit. Remember that it doesn’t matter if the damage to your car is minor and there are no injuries. You should protect yourself and avoid surprises. You might receive a personal injury lawsuit a couple of days later, for which you’ll need a police report to support your claims.

Of course, if there is an emergency going on, it is possible that the police won’t come to the scene if there are no major injuries. For this case, you should use your phone to take pictures of the collision damage. It might be helpful to request some contact information from the witnesses, too.

#2 A police report is needed to file a car insurance claim

Another reason why you should file a police report after your auto accident is if your car sustained significant damage. To request a car insurance claim, you’ll need an accident report signed by a police officer. Most car insurance companies require that you first file a police report.

Moreover, if you’re planning to seek compensation for a hard-to-prove injury like whiplash, your insurance company may not be so forthcoming to cover your treatment costs. With the help of an experienced auto accident lawyer, you can use the police report to work with your insurance company and receive injury-related compensation.

#3 A police report is needed to file a personal injury claim

If you’re filing a personal injury claim, you’ll need a police report. If you’re injured in a car accident where you’re not at fault, you may be able to get compensation for loss of wages, medical costs, and other damages. In this situation, a police report is viewed as a trustworthy, legally binding document written by a reliable and neutral source.

Of course, a police report won’t definitively say who is at fault. But it is useful as a primary source of information for who could be at fault. Hence, it would be best if you didn’t skip requesting a police officer to assess the accident and file a report.

How To File A Police Report?

Anyone involved in an auto accident must stop at the crash site. It is best to reach for law enforcement and an ambulance if necessary. All drivers involved in the accident should exchange names, addresses, and vehicle license plate numbers. Besides this, a police report must be requested as it follows:

Dial 911 immediately after the accident and request help depending on the gravity of the situation.
Talk with the police officer and answer all the questions he asks during the interview.
Request a copy of the police’s accident report; this report is usually available within hours or a day.

Request Help For Your Auto Accident Today

If you’re unsure what to do next after an auto accident, you should discuss it with one of our lawyers. Luckily we do car accident cases for the Twin cities, but also for cities such as Roseville and Eagan. It is essential to have access to professional legal guidance to avoid unpleasant situations. Filing a police report immediately after an accident will save you a lot of time and money.