The Impact of a Police Report On Your Insurance Claim

Every year, millions of people are injured in car accidents. Deaths are the leading cause of automobile accidents. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2013, nearly 33,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents. Depending on the specific facts of how the accident occurred and who is placed at fault, the injured victims may be entitled to compensation.

If you or a loved one has become a victim of an automobile accident that was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party, you should immediately consult with an experienced car accident attorney to protect your legal rights and obtain the full extent of the compensation that you deserve.

Two Types of Report: Police Report v. Party Report

Two types of reports are generally prepared in car accidents. The first type of report is the official report prepared by the local policy agency that responded to the scene of the accident. The second type of report is an unofficial report created by one or more parties involved in the accident.

The police are generally not dispatched to scenes of accidents that do not involve serious injuries to the parties involved. The reasoning behind this concept is because there are so many accidents every day, the police would spend the bulk of their time responding to accident scenes, rather than attending to more serious crimes. Generally, police officers are dispatched to the following types of accident scenes:

• Participants or bystanders have been injured
• The accident is blocking a major road or the flow of traffic
• At least one of the parties involved is deemed to be intoxicated
• The accident victims are being disruptive or fighting at the scene

What To Do If the Police Does Not Come To the Scene of Accident

Police reports are generally crucial in the after math of an accident because they often clearly place fault on one party, making it more difficult for the at fault party to deny responsibility. If the police are not dispatched to the scene of the accident and no report is prepared, it is important that you create your own unofficial accident report at the scene of the accident. This report should include important aspects, such as a short narrative of how the accident occurred, pictures, video clips, information for all parties involved in the accident, information for any eye witnesses to the accident, and the statement of the party who is claiming fault.

Upon completing your report, you should provide it to your attorney. You or your attorney should send a copy of the report to the at fault party’s claims adjuster.

Consult with a Car Accident Attorney in Los Angeles

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an automobile accident that was caused by the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to financial compensation by filing a personal injury claim. For more information or to schedule a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney, call the Law Offices of Samer Habbas today at 888.848.5084.