If you are injured as a result of someone’s negligence or recklessness, you will need to prove they are liable for your injuries. If you are unable to prove liability using evidence, you will not be able to recover compensation. A police report is one of the most valuable pieces of evidence you can use to prove liability. Here’s why.
How to File a Police Report
A police report is filed after a police officer responds to an incident. It is usually created on-site and can be accessed shortly after the incident. A police report contains a description of the incident as well as the officer’s perception of what occurred.
Additionally, a police report can be filed if the victim goes to the police station within 24 hours of the accident and asks to file a report. In these instances, the victim will usually be interviewed by officers at the station prior to the submission of their report.
If you need to go to the hospital after the accident, you can also request that the police meet you at the hospital to file their report.
What is included in a police report?
A police report contains all of the following information:
- The time and location of the incident
- All parties involved in the incident
- The officer’s personal opinions on the liable party
- Witness contact information
- Statements from all relevant parties
- Citations
- Description of any property damage or injuries
After the officer takes your information, make sure to ask for a copy of the police report. Depending on where you live, the officer may be able to give you a copy of the report immediately. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the police report right after the accident, contact the department that responded and request a copy.
A Police Report Is Important for Personal Injury Cases
Once the at-fault party’s insurance company learns of the accident, it will request a copy of the police report. From there, it will turn the report over to its insurance adjuster, who will subsequently evaluate its contents and make a decision regarding what transpired and who is to blame.
After they have finished their initial evaluation, the insurance adjuster will conduct their own investigation. Once this is completed, the adjuster may agree with the contents of the police report or object to some of the information while agreeing with other information.
If the insurance adjuster feels you are liable for the damages and pushes back against the police report, having the police corroborate your version of the story in the report can greatly bolster your case.
Hearsay
Unfortunately, police reports are not typically counted as admissible evidence in court. That is because the court considers the information therein to be hearsay. However, police reports can come in handy during settlement negotiations.
A qualified personal injury attorney will understand how to use the police report as leverage during negotiations to advocate for a fair settlement claim. While the report itself may not be admissible, the information in it can be used to construct an airtight case.
Injured? Contact Hunt Law Today
If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence or recklessness, Hunt Law wants to hear from you. We have nearly two decades of experience serving the Northern New Mexico area in matters related to personal injury, catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death.
Our years of experience helping people just like yourself have given us a valuable understanding of the law that we will gladly use to assist you with your case. Contact Hunt Law today and let us know how we can help.