Following a personal injury incident, such as a slip and fall, truck, or car accident, one of the most important steps to take is to file a police report. By filing a police report, you can establish a timeline for the personal injury incident that can be helpful when pursuing compensation. You can also get information on the record, such as who was involved, the date of the incident, and how the incident happened.
You can file a police report by calling the police, who will then send a responding officer to collect information pertinent to the personal injury incident. This police report can be accessed later on and help you prove the at-fault party’s liability. The experienced personal injury attorneys at The Russo Firm can help you access a police report and use it to strengthen your case as you pursue compensation for your damages.
Why Do You Need to File a Police Report After a Personal Injury Accident?
After suffering a severe injury from a personal injury incident, a victim will have to deal with significant damages like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In all likelihood, they will not be able to pay for the full cost out-of-pocket. They might need to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim.
One way to help in a future personal injury claim is by filing a police report about the personal injury incident. The police report can help to establish a timeline of events and important details about the incident, such as where it happened, when it happened, and who was involved. Without a police report, it can be hard to prove the at-fault party’s liability and that you suffered significant damages due to another person’s negligence.
The following are some of the personal injury incidents for which filing a police report can help:
- Car accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Boating accidents
- Lyft accidents
How Do You File a Police Report?
In most cases, you will file a police report by calling 911 at the scene of the personal injury incident. For example, most states want those involved in a car accident to stay at the scene of the accident and await a responding officer. You will then tell the officer every detail you know about the personal injury incident and allow them to collect their own evidence to put into the report.
You can also go directly to a local police department to file a police report. If you were involved in a personal injury incident that you did not realize caused harm until after the fact, this might be a preferable option. You can tell the officers there the details just like you would a responding officer at the scene of an accident.
What Information Can Be Found On a Police Report?
The information a police officer collects to put on a police report is vital for your future personal injury claim. You can use that information to prove the at-fault party’s liability, you suffered damages, and injuries were sustained from the incident. Statements from those involved and witnesses can also be helpful in determining what happened during the incident and whether you have a case for receiving compensation.
The following are some of the pieces of information found on a police report:
- The date, time, and location of the incident
- What type of personal injury incident occurred
- The names of those involved in the incident
- What damages occurred to the property
- What injuries did those involved suffer
- Statements from those involved and witnesses about what happened
- Environmental factors that contributed to the incident
How Long Do You Have to File a Police Report?
The length of time you have to file a police report depends on what type of personal injury incident you were involved in and what state the incident happened in. Each state has its own set of rules for filing a police report and pursuing compensation for personal injury incidents.
For example, Florida gives car accident victims ten days to file a police report about their car accidents. In most cases, filing a police report as soon as possible is preferable. Consult a local personal injury lawyer to determine how long you have to file a police report.
Accessing a Police Report
You can access a police report by going to the police department or sending a request via mail. If you were the victim of a personal injury incident, you will likely receive a verification slip from the police letting you know that the police report has been filed. You can bring that along with a form of identification and payment to cover the police report request fee to the police department to access the police report on your personal injury incident.
If I was injured in a car accident, should I file a police report?
Yes. Even if you were not injured you should still file a police report. The police report is the only way to get your accident officially documented.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Use a Police Report to Help With Your Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury lawyer can help you with the process of accessing your police report and advising the best ways to use the information enclosed to prove your case. A police report has much of the information on record that you will need to prove the at-fault party’s liability and that you suffered significant damages.
By hiring a personal injury lawyer, you can simplify the process and take the burden of litigation off your shoulders. They can assess your current and future damages, file documentation at the right time, and negotiate with an insurance company trying to deny, delay, or devalue your claim. Your best chance for recovering fair compensation for the full cost of your damages is by hiring a personal injury lawyer.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Personal Injury Claim
At The Russo Firm, we have helped many personal injury victims of incidents such as product liability, medical malpractice, and slip and fall accidents recover compensation for damages. We can use a police report to prove the at-fault party’s liability and put you in the best position to recover compensation. Our personalized legal counsel and use of police reports can help you as you pursue payment for the full cost of your current and future damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our personal injury lawyers offer free consultations to show potential clients how they can help them during the personal injury claims process. Contact The Russo Firm today at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
