Car accidents can result from a driver’s negligent or intentionally reckless behavior, such as distracted, drunk, or drowsy driving. In the immediate aftermath, you may be confused as to what you should do. You now have severe injuries and significant financial losses due to the car accident.
It can be challenging to move through life with the pain of your injuries and the stress of the financial fallout.
Certain steps can help car accident victims recover from their injuries and put them in a position to receive fair compensation for their car accident damages.
A car accident lawyer can help by detailing what steps they would advise to put yourself in the best position to recover fair compensation for your current and future damages.
The car accident attorneys at The Russo Firm have decades of experience helping car accident victims across the United States and can advise you on the next steps for your car accident claim process.
Understanding Car Accident Reports
An accident report is a critical document to have when navigating the insurance claim process after an automobile accident. It provides an official record of the collision, detailing essential information that can be vital when dealing with insurance companies, filing a claim, or pursuing compensation for personal injury and property damage.
Why Accident Reports Matter
After a traffic accident, the first step is to remain calm and call the police. When police officers arrive at the accident scene, they will collect crucial information, including each driver’s license number, vehicle registration, license plate number, and insurance policy details. The police officer’s report will note the drivers’ statements, assess who might be at fault, and record details about the road conditions, weather, and any contributing factors. This documentation is invaluable when you report the accident to your insurance company and file a claim.
Information Included in an Accident Report
The accident report typically includes the following details:
- Driver and Vehicle Information: The report will list the driver’s license numbers, insurance information, and the vehicle registration of all parties involved, including the other driver’s insurance company and policy number.
- Witness Statements and Contact Information: Police officers may speak with other drivers, passengers, and witnesses to gather additional insights. These statements help insurance adjusters determine fault and resolve disputes.
- Description of the Accident Scene: The report will describe the collision location, road conditions, and any visible vehicle damage. The police officer may also note whether any drivers were using hazard lights or if there were signs of further damage caused by the crash.
- Medical Assistance Provided: If anyone required emergency room care, medical payments, or assistance from health insurance providers, this information may be included, especially if injuries were severe.
How an Accident Report Impacts the Insurance Claim Process
When filing an insurance claim after a motor vehicle collision, your insurance agent will likely ask for a copy of the accident report. This document helps establish the facts of the case, including which driver may have caused the collision and whether other parties were at fault. Insurance adjusters rely on the accident report to assess repair costs, determine the actual cash value of the damaged vehicle, and decide whether after-market parts or a body shop are needed for repairs.
Additionally, the accident report plays a significant role in assessing personal injury claims. It documents whether medical care was required at the scene or afterward, impacting how medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses are covered under your insurance policy.
Steps to Obtain an Accident Report
To get a copy of the accident report, visit the police department that responded to the accident or check if it’s available online. Make sure to have relevant details, such as the police officer’s badge number and the report number, along with your driver’s license and insurance card. Having this report can streamline the claims process, helping you provide the necessary documentation to your insurance company and ensuring a smoother resolution.
Contact the Police After a Car Accident
Following a car accident, you should not immediately leave the scene of the accident. If you are physically able to, you should move your car out of the way of traffic and stay at the scene of the car accident. While still at the scene of the accident, you should contact the police to file a report. Most states require those involved in a car accident to file a police report on the car collision by calling 911 and speaking to the responding officer.
The responding officer will come to the scene of the accident and try to discern what happened.
They will collect as much information as possible about those involved, what happened, and what damages resulted to put in the police report. This police report can be accessed down the line and used as evidence to prove the at-fault party’s liability.
The following is some of the information in a car accident police report:
- The date and time of the car accident
- The exact location where the car accident took place
- The names of those involved in the car accident
- What damages occurred to the vehicles
- The injuries that those involved suffered
- Statements from those involved and witnesses about what transpired
- Environmental factors that contributed to the car accident
Take Pictures of Evidence at the Scene of the Car Accident
Around the scene of the car accident, there will be evidence that you can take pictures of to use later in the car accident claim process. These pictures can provide tangible evidence of the damages your vehicle sustained, injuries you suffered, and other factors that may have contributed to the accident.
For example, let’s say you are filing a car accident claim with a distracted driver who ignored a stop sign and caused a rear-end car accident. You can take pictures of the damage to the rear of your vehicle and a stop sign in the area of the car accident to prove the elements you need to recover compensation for damages.
The following are some of the pieces of evidence you can take pictures of at the scene of the car accident:
- Car accident damages
- Injuries you suffered
- Road conditions that contributed to the car accident
- Traffic control signals
- Damage to surrounding property
- Skid marks
Receive Medical Attention for Car Accident Injuries
You should not only focus on steps that can help you recover compensation, as you will likely have severe injuries that need to be addressed. You should go to the hospital to have a doctor check you out for severe injuries. In some cases, you may not think it’s necessary because you are not showing symptoms yet.
However, some injuries may have delayed symptoms that will not arise for a couple of days.
Receiving medical attention allows a medical professional to catch a severe medical condition or injury early and treat it before it gets worse. This can also help prove your car accident case, as going to the hospital proves the seriousness of your injuries.
The following are some of the car accident injuries you can suffer that a doctor can diagnose and treat:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury
- Whiplash
- Knee injury
- Chest injury
- Facial injury
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Infections
- Internal injury
Collect Evidence That Can Help Prove Your Car Accident Claim
There will be evidence outside of what you can collect at the scene of the car accident that can help prove your claim. Make sure to keep track of all of the essential records that have to do with your car accident, including medical records, the police report, and insurance statements. These can help to establish a timeline for the car accident and prove that you suffered injuries due to another party’s negligence.
Vehicle accident reconstructions can help to establish what caused a car accident. You can use one of these to prove the liable party was at fault for causing the car accident.
Testimonies from witnesses and expert witnesses can also help to prove the at-fault party’s negligence, establish the severity of your damages, and prove your case.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help With the Claims Process
The most important step you can take following a car accident is to hire a car accident lawyer. In all likelihood, you will not have the car accident claims experience necessary to handle the claims process properly. You may make a mistake that can affect the level of compensation you could receive.
By hiring a car accident attorney, you can take the stress of litigation off your back by putting your trust in someone who has the experience necessary to handle your claim properly. They will know when to file documentation, can assess your current and future car accident damages, and can find experts that can help prove your claim.
A car accident lawyer can also negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This can be a tricky part of the process, as insurance companies will try to deny, delay, or devalue your claim to keep their profits up.
An experienced car accident attorney will know the tactics they will use to accomplish this and can combat these attempts to put you in the best position to recover fair compensation for your car accident damages.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Car Accident Claim
The car accident lawyers at The Russo Firm have helped car accident victims across the United States in places like New Orleans, Garden City, Orlando, and Miami. If a driver caused a car accident through negligent driving behavior like speeding, road rage, or drunk driving, we could help to prove their liability to assist you in pursuing compensation for damages.
Our experienced car accident attorneys know what steps to take along the claims process to maximize your potential compensation and can advise you on the most prudent way to handle the car accident claims process.
The Russo Firm offers free consultations to show how our car accident lawyers can help you through the claims process. Contact us at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page for a free car accident claim consultation.
