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Car Accidents—Why You Need to Call the Police

A woman standing next to a cop car after a car accident

If you have been the victim of a car accident, you are likely injured and in shock. If you are conscious and can communicate, there are two things you need to make sure happen. The first is obvious—that you receive prompt medical care. The second is that the police need to be called to the scene. This is so that a police report can be created.

When you are injured due to the neglect or recklessness of another driver, you have a right to pursue damages against that driver. These damages are intended to cover your medical expenses, your pain and suffering, your lost wages, and a multitude of other impacts you have suffered because of the other driver’s negligence. A police report is an essential part of a personal injury claim. Written by the police officer who responds to your crash scene, a report contains critical information that can significantly aid your ability to recover damages.

What is in a Police Report?

Realistically, you are too injured, dazed, and shocked to do anything in the immediate aftermath of your wreck—such as get out, take videos, or talk to witnesses. And by the time you can go to the accident spot later, the scene has been cleared, and the weather and traffic conditions are different.

Calling in a police officer allows a third party to examine the accident scene and capture key information about your accident shortly after it happened. Some of the information that you may find in a report include:

  • The identities of the people involved in the accident.
  • The identities of potential witnesses to the accident.
  • A description of the time, date, traffic conditions, weather conditions, and road conditions.
  • Observations of the accident scene and vehicles.
  • Statements of the people involved in the accident.
  • A description of property damage.
  • Descriptions of injuries.
  • The officer’s opinion about what happened.
  • Any citations or arrests that may have resulted from the accident.

An essential part of Settlement Negotiations

While a police report may not be admissible as a document in court, it is essential to settlement negotiations with the insurance company. For example, an office may state that the negligent driver was following you too closely and driving at an excessive speed, then rear-ended your vehicle. This can serve as a pretty clear-cut indicator of fault that the insurance company will not want to defend in court.

Car Accident Attorneys, Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P.

If you have been the victim of a car accident, call Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman, L.L.P. We are a client-focused small law firm that gets big results. Our attorneys are understand what it takes to win and have successfully obtained millions of dollars in damages on behalf of our clients. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we do not get paid unless your claim is successfully resolved. Call Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. today at (775) 227-2280 to schedule a free case consultation or contact our office through our website.

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