How Will A Police Report Affect My Car Accident Lawsuit?

The car accident injury attorneys at The Roth Firm, LLC have years of experience fighting for the rights of car accident victims in Georgia and Tennessee. Our team of personal injury attorneys can explain what effect a police report can have on the outcome of your car accident injury case.

The Value of a Police Report for Your Auto Accident Case

If you have been involved in a car accident, it is very important that you call the police. Not only will the police get in touch with medical care to treat any resulting injuries, but they provide the most powerful form of evidence if your case results in a lawsuit, the Police Report.

In this article, we will go over what exactly a police report is, why it is important to your car accident lawsuit, and how you can get a copy of yours.

What Is a Police Report?

A Police Report is a document that law enforcement officers fill out at the scene of auto accidents. This report contains relevant information on the details of the accident and acts as a formal record of the accident.

Some of the important information that is included in the police report is:

  • The Date and Time of the accident
  • The Weather conditions and Location of the accident
  • The Parties who were involved in the crash
  • Contact Information of those involved as well as Witnesses
  • Statements made by those involved in the crash and witnesses
  • A detailed statement of what the officer believes happened or caused the crash

Having a detailed police report is one of the best tools that a personal injury attorney can have at their disposal if you end up in a personal injury lawsuit.

How Will a Police Report Effect My Car Accident Lawsuit?

A police report is a vital piece of evidence that is used in car accident injury lawsuits by personal injury attorneys. Although many people would prefer not to involve the police after being in a car accident, it is usually the best way to make sure that their legal rights are protected.

As we have discussed, the police report provides a legal document that outlines the important details of the car accident. Without one, your case will have to be built around other evidence that may be difficult to find or prove in a court of law. Most personal injury cases are settled out of court. One of the reasons for this is police reports.

"Police reports provide attorneys with written statements from the parties involved, witnesses, and the responding officers." A personal injury attorney can refer to these reports to show that the defendant was indeed at fault for the accident. In states like Georgia, where comparative fault is used in personal injury cases, the police report can help determine what percentage of fault rests with each party.

Lawyers can prove how responsible each party was for the accident which can help the victim get a fair settlement offer from the defendant's insurance company.

Combining the police report with medical records and property damage reports gives you the best chance of settling your lawsuit quickly and fairly and without the need for stepping foot in a courtroom.

How Do I Access My Police Report?

Police reports are filed and kept with the police department that responded to the scene of the accident. The way you are able to get a copy of your accident's police report depends on the department that responded to your accident and what their policies are, however you will always be able to get a copy one way or another. To obtain yours, you may either request a copy of the form online or go to the police station in person and request a copy.

Keep in mind that when trying to obtain your police report, you may need to provide identification or sometimes even pay a small fee. If you have been in a car accident, the first course of action you should take is to contact the authorities. Having an officer respond to the scene is important to gathering evidence for a potential lawsuit. When the responding officer fills out a police report, they are providing documented proof of the events that took place, who was involved, witness testimony, and their own individual analysis of the events. After contacting the police, the next step you should take if you have been in a car accident is to contact a personal injury attorney.

Once You Have the Police Report What Should You Do Next?

A personal injury attorney is highly experienced and knows how to leverage a police report along with other evidence to get a fair financial settlement for you.

If you have been in a car accident and would like to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney, call The Roth Firm, LLC at (404) 777-4899 or fill out our online contact form and schedule a free consultation.

Hear From Past Clients

  • Highly recommend The Roth Firm!

    “The entire time they represented us, the firm kept us well-informed of the case's status, was well prepared, and on top of things.”

    - Michael
  • Jim Roth is one in a million.

    “He handled my claim after I was rear-ended. I would hire Jim Roth again and he will be the only PI attorney I will refer to.”

    - Catherine
  • I love the personal approach to representation the firm offers.

    “He remembers me and everyone at the firm treats me like a truly valued client. I have been a client of the Roth Firm for many years.”

    - Tarcarnesia
  • Very Professional and Attentive.

    “Richard Bently settled my personal injury case. I'm very satisfied with the result.”

    - Joanne

The Roth Firm Way

  • More Than Another Billboard Firm

    Our attorneys care about clients like you. At The Roth Firm, your needs come first!

  • Experienced Team Ready to Fight

    For over 15 years, our team has fought to help those injured due to negligence and are ready to do the same for you and your loved ones.

  • Our Clients Are Like Family

    We are a boutique litigation firm, focusing on specific injuries. Each case, like our clients, is unique and will be treated with individual attention and urgency.

  • Accessible When You Need Us Most

    We will travel to you after hours or weekends and are available for video or phone consultations.

  • Free Case Evaluations

    Meet with our team to hear we can help you. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you won't pay unless we win!

Accelerate Your Case