Car accident attorney suggests you to call the police, in order to the a report. You are required by law to call the police if you were involved in an accident that resulted in bodily injury, imminent threat to life and/or major property damage. You are not, however, required to report minor accidents, although you may still want to do so.
Even minor accidents can result in injuries that are not always apparent at the time. When the police respond to the accident, you won’t need to worry about speaking to witnesses or dealing with the other driver. The police will speak to all the parties involved and record all the relevant information. Furthermore, having a police report with the details of the incident will prove helpful to claim for compensation later.
Police reports and insurance claims
You may use a police report to negotiate a better insurance payout following your accident. When the police respond to the scene of an accident, they will make a note of injuries and damage to property. They may also include their thoughts on the cause of the accident based on what they observed at the scene. For example, from the length of the skid marks, they can say whether speeding was a factor and can tell which driver was speeding. Such information will help the insurance company to better asses your claim.
In addition to an insurance claim, you may also file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver if the accident was caused by their intentional or careless behaviour. With a personal injury lawsuit, you can use the court system to receive compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, loss of comfort and emotional distress. A police report can give you some leverage when filing a personal injury lawsuit as well.
What to do in the police do not come to the scene of the accident
Even if you call the police, they are not required to respond to an accident unless there were injuries, significant property damage or if the accident resulted in a public emergency. If they choose not to come, then thoroughly document the details of the accident yourself. Take pictures of the damage to the vehicles and visible injuries. Also, take pictures of, or write down the location of the accident and speak with witnesses. Get the name, address and contact information of each witness you find. Make an audio or video recording of their recollection of the events or write down what they have to say. When you’ve collected the necessary information, call or visit the nearest police station and file a report.
Whether the police responded to the scene or you filed a report, get the name of the officer you spoke with and ask how you get in contact with them. You may remember important details after the initial shock of the accident has passed. If this happens, ask the officer if those details can be added to the report.
Do you need a Beverly Hills car accident attorney?
If you are having trouble with your insurance claim or you want to file a personal injury lawsuit, contact the experienced Beverly Hills car accident attorney at Seber Bulgar. Through aggressive and sophisticated legal representation, we fight for our clients every step of the way to achieve the best results. So, give us a call today to schedule a legal consultation. Let us show you how we can help.