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The Importance of Police Reports in Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury victims cannot recover compensation for car accident injuries unless they are able to prove liability. Many different types of evidence are used to prove liability, including police reports. Here’s what you should know about the importance of police reports in personal injury cases:

What is a Police Report?

If you call 9-1-1 after a car accident, the dispatcher will send a police officer to the scene as soon as possible. The officer that arrives at the scene will eventually create a police report that contains a summary of the accident.

What Information is Included in the Police Report?

The official police report may contain a lot of information, including:

  • When and where the accident took place
  • Parties involved
  • Witness contact information
  • Statements from the parties involved
  • Description of the accident
  • Description of the property damage
  • Citations issued
  • Opinions on who was to blame for the accident

You can obtain a copy of this report from the law enforcement office in your area shortly after the accident.

How is the Police Report Used in Personal Injury Cases?

The at-fault party’s insurance company will immediately request a copy of the police report after learning about the accident. Insurance adjusters need to review this document in order to get a better idea of what happened and who was to blame. However, insurance adjusters will still conduct their own investigation even if they have a copy of the police report. The insurance adjuster may come to the same conclusions that the police officer did, but it is possible for the insurance adjuster to disagree with some portion of the report.

It’s hard for insurance adjusters to argue with the facts outlined in a police report. For example, it may be easier to get compensation for property damage if the police report confirms that your vehicle was badly damaged in the crash. However, insurance companies can disagree with the opinions included in the report after conducting their own investigation. For instance, the officer may have concluded that you were not to blame for the accident, but the insurance company may disagree.

Even if the insurer disagrees with the report’s conclusions, having a police report that states that the other party is liable will still strengthen your case.

Have you been injured in a car accident? If so, seek legal representation from personal injury attorney Martin Gasparian at once. Mr. Gasparian will investigate the accident and collect the evidence you need to prove liability and recover compensation. Schedule a free consultation regarding your case by calling 559-203-3333 or submitting your information at MaisonLaw.com.

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