If you were to ask any car accident attorney in Carrollton, Georgia what the most important piece of evidence is in a car accident case, they’ll tell you it’s the police accident report. This report contains incredibly valuable information that they cannot access any other way.
For example, when the police come out to the accident scene, they’ll interview any eyewitnesses. They’ll get their statement along with their contact information. If you don’t call the cops, there won’t be a police report and your personal injury lawyer in Carrollton will have no way to uncover this information.
The police report is also a great source of information because it is created by an unbiased party. The police officer who will investigate your accident has no reason to side with one driver over the other. All they want to do is get to the bottom of the crash and find out what happened. This is why they’ll put their opinion of how the accident transpired in this report. The last thing you want to do is make your attorney’s job any harder than it already is. If you don’t call the police to investigate your crash, you’ll be doing just that.
Here, we’ll discuss why it’s so critical that you call 911 after your Georgia car accident. We will also explain what sort of information is contained in the police accident report. Finally, we’ll describe what steps you need to take to get a copy of your accident report as soon as possible after your accident.
Why Is It So Important that You Call 911 Immediately After Your Car Accident?
Years ago, it was common for people who were involved in a car crash to exchange insurance information and go their separate ways. This doesn’t work in today’s world. There are too many ways for a person to fabricate insurance information. They can even give you false identification. Once you drive away from the scene, you have no idea if you’ll ever hear from the other driver again.
When you call 911, they’ll send a team of officers to the crash scene to do a thorough investigation. They’ll look to see what the road conditions are like. They’ll speak to any eyewitnesses and get their contact information. They’ll also get statements from each of the drivers involved in the crash. They will also make a note if anybody was issued any citations or were arrested for DUI.
This information is priceless and the stuff your car accident attorney in Carrollton needs to prove your case. If you refuse to call the cops, they’ll have no access to any of the information in this accident report.
What Information is Contained in the Accident Report?
As mentioned above, the accident report is typically the most valuable resource when it comes to proving fault. If your personal injury lawyer in Carrollton is expected to prove that the other driver caused the crash, they need ammunition to do so. The police accident report gives them this ammunition.
Some of the information documented in the police or accident report includes the following:
- Name, license, and registration information for both drivers
- Insurance information for the drivers involved
- Pictures and descriptions of damage to your vehicle
- A description of the road conditions
- Notations about any inclement weather or sun glare
- Pictures of the accident scene
- Name and contact information for any witnesses
- Statements made by the drivers and eyewitnesses
- Notes about any tickets or arrests at the accident scene
- Notations about any intersection camera or nearby video recording devices
If you look closely at this list, there is very little to any information on here that your car accident attorney in Carrollton could get on their own. If they don’t have this accident report, they’ll be handicapped in trying your case.
Can You Request a Copy of the Accident Report from the Local Police?
Even in this digital age, you’d be surprised at how difficult it can be to get your hands on a copy of the police accident report. Even though the report is in regard to your accident, it can be tough to work through the bureaucratic hoops that are involved with getting official police records.
You can always call the police station and see if they have a copy of the accident report ready for your review. If you want a hard copy of the report, you’ll need to make an official request. You can go into the station and fill out a form requesting the document. You usually have to pay a nominal fee as well. Or you can go online and make the same request. Either way, it will be at least a few days before the accident report is ready for you.
The officer will likely tell you to come pick up a copy of the accident report when it’s ready. If you wait for it to be mailed to you, it could be weeks before you see it. The other option is to ask them to fax or email a copy of the report to your car accident attorney in Carrollton. Once they have the accident report, they can get started on your case.
Contact Our Office So You Can Meet with a Seasoned Car Accident Attorney in Carrollton
If you or your loved one have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you’ll need legal help. Even if the other driver has insurance, there’s no way to know if the insurance company is going to pay your claim. At least if you retain a car accident attorney in Carrollton immediately after your accident, they can make sure your claim is handled properly.
We recommend that you call our office within days of your Georgia car crash. Ask to schedule your free, initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Carrollton. You can sit down with someone who has handled dozens of cases like yours in the past. Our associates know the law and know how the insurance companies operate. They’ll do whatever it takes to get you the compensation you deserve.
Since the initial consultation is free, you have nothing to lose. And remember – you don’t pay our office a dime until we settle your case.
