Importance of Getting an Accident Report After an Accident

If you live in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan near Interstate 75, you’ve heard about a bad accident on i-75. Interstate 75 passes through 6 states from Michigan down to Florida and is considered one of the most dangerous roads in the United States.

As with most multi-state highways, interstate congestion, high speeds, and the volume of semi-trucks, all play a part in the frequent accidents along I-75. The intention is to make the interstate a safer place to travel, the constant construction along certain stretches of I-75 provides even more opportunities for accidents as drivers work around barrels, traffic pattern changes, and confused drivers coming in and out of various locations.

Interstate 75 is especially dangerous around major cities and during that time of year when snowbirds are traveling from cold Northern states down to Florida for the winter. There are also patches of I-75 that seem to be under constant construction and patches that face frequent bad weather. Congested, slick roads and rush hour traffic combined with major intersections around big cities present the perfect environment for impatient and sometimes negligent drivers.

Accidents are inevitable, and many of them have fatal consequences. When people have been injured or if traffic is seriously disrupted, it’s almost a reflex for us to call the police. But what about minor accidents? Those fender benders that seem innocent? Should you even bother to file a police report if there is no obvious property damage or injuries?

The answer is yes. You never know what might occur after the accident or if damage or injuries will appear after you’ve already made it home from your minor accident. You might not notice your injuries due to adrenaline-masking symptoms, and not every injury shows symptoms rights away. You may believe you are okay, only to have pain later on. If a police report was filed at the time of the accident, it will be much easier to see compensation for your injuries.

The same can also be said for damage to your vehicle. It may seem that nothing is wrong, but damage to the engine or other mechanics may not be present right away. In order to protect yourself should you need to file damages later on, it is imperative to file a police report for any accident you are involved in, no matter how minor it may seem.

Why is a police report so important?

A police report in its simplest terms provides unbiased, third-party documentation of the accident. When filing an insurance claim, this report is much more effective as evidence of what happened than the word-of-mouth reports given by those involved in the accident. If two drivers are each claiming the accident was the fault of the other driver, a police report will provide essential information on what actually happened.

Police reports are not only helpful while dealing with insurance companies, they are also extremely helpful if you later decide to file a personal injury claim. A police report includes the following information:

Accident details. This includes information like the time, date, and location of the accidents. The report will include additional information such as whether the accident occurred at an intersection or if there were any traffic signs nearby. An officer will also record how many vehicles were involved and the number of injuries and fatalities if they occurred.
Vehicle information. This will include any identifying information for the vehicles involved in an accident, such as the make and model, vehicle type, VIN and license plate numbers for each vehicle. An officer will also likely include the direction the vehicles were traveling and their position at the time of the crash, as well as any damage to the vehicles involved.
Driver information. An officer will record the names and contact information of all the drivers involved in the accident. They will also gather license and insurance information and take note if a driver appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If drug and alcohol testing was conducted the results will be recorded in the report. The names and contact information for passengers and witnesses will also be included.
Injuries and fatalities. An officer will record whether or not emergency medical services were called. It will note the hospital where injured parties were taken, and how severe the injuries appeared to be. The officer will also record any fatalities that occurred.
Commercial vehicle information. If the accident involved a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle, the report will include information about the trucking company and cargo being carried.
If the officer issued any citations for laws broken, such as a speeding ticket or reckless conduct, it will be included in the report.
Narrative and diagram. An officer will include a written description of how the accident happened based on their initial investigation. These usually include a diagram showing the positions of the vehicles involved in the accident.
Police conclusions about fault. Typically an officer will include their opinions on how the accident happened and who caused the crash. This can be really helpful later when working with insurance companies and during any civil suits that may be filed.

How an Accident Report Can Help You

Many wonder if they should bother with a police report if the accident was minor and no injuries occurred. Regardless of the severity of the accident, a police report will be useful for the following reasons:

It is an official, unbiased report. A police report is an official document that shows the unbiased account from a third-party about a vehicle accident. It is considered to be more reliable than testimonies provided by the people in involved in the crash, who will naturally be looking out for their own best interest. When those involved in an accident recount their own stories there can be conflicting information presented, including who was at fault. A police report can give an accurate summary of what actually happened.
It protects those that were injured. If someone develops injuries after an accident, the police report can help determine that those injuries were a direct result of the accident itself. If someone claims you sustained your injuries elsewhere, the report can set records straight. Conversely, if someone does try to fake injuries after an accident it can protect you from falling victim to false liability claims by showing that no injuries were sustained during the accident if someone tries to place blame for something that never happened.
It records damages to property. Sometimes vehicle damage isn’t always obvious upon initial inspection. If you realize your car is damaged after the accident then a police report can help determine the link between the car accident and the damage. And similar to false injury claims, it will also deter people from making false claims about damage to a vehicle.
It is necessary for any car accident claims. When you file a claim through your insurance company you may be required to present a police event number or police record of the accident. The report becomes a crucial piece of evidence for any compensation claims you file. If there is no documentation of the accident, your insurance claim may be denied.
It is invaluable if the accident goes to court. Sometimes personal injury claims are filed through the court if a driver or injured party does not feel they were fairly compensated. A police report is an incredible piece of evidence when determining who was at fault and what damages are due to personal injury victims.

Ideally, police should be called immediately following an accident. Especially in accidents that involve serious injury or death. As well as in hit-and-run accidents or if criminal behavior was involved. If the accident was minor, with no known injuries, a report should still be filed as soon as possible. The time limit for reporting accidents to police varies from state to state, so be sure to check the state’s laws on how much time you have to make a report.

Filing a police report is not complicated, though it may not be the first thing on your mind following an accident. If your injuries are not too substantial take the following steps to have a report created:

After an accident, call the police immediately
Discuss the details of the accident with an officer. The officer will interview you, other drivers, and the witnesses of the accident so they can determine what happened.
Be sure to obtain a copy of the report to send to your insurance provider so that you can be compensated for damages.

Accidents happen along Interstate 75 every day. While some are minor, unfortunately many result in serious injuries and death. It is important to call police immediately following any accident, no matter how minor, as a police report can help protect your rights and provide essential evidence in case you need it in the future. It is always better to have a report made and not need it than to not get one and wish you did later.