One of the greatest mistakes people make following a collision is not calling the police. However, if you have just been in a collision and have not filed a police report it may not be too late. You should still go down to the police department and file a police report today. In fact, several police departments may even allow you to go online and file a police report. It is never too late to file a police report, but the sooner the better.
This traffic collision report may be very helpful for you following a collision. One of the many benefits that come from calling an officer is basic traffic collision documentation. For example, one standard practice of an officer is to take the names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information of the people involved in the collision and any potential witnesses. Obviously, this would include the at fault driver and in addition to his name and contact information it will generally also include his insurance information. This insurance information provides you the information you will need to set up your property damage and injury claim. Having the information about the insurance of the party at fault in the police report will speed up the process of setting up your claim.
Additionally, the witness contact information in the traffic collision report will allow you, or your attorney to follow up with the witnesses and obtain further statements if that is necessary.
The traffic collision report will also contain critical witness statements regarding the collision. Many times the at fault driver is interviewed by the police officer at the scene and may simply admit that he wasn’t paying attention, or will admit that the collision is his fault. Again these statements regarding the cause of the collision are critical to your claim.
In some instances, the at fault driver after he leaves the scene of the accident will change his mind and will make statements to his own insurance company that the collision might not have been his fault.
In those instances having the police officer at the scene documenting all witnesses statements, including the at fault drivers statements admitting fault will be invaluable in proving your claim, if the at fault driver ever tries to change his story.
Again, it is always the best practice to call the police when in a car accident, regardless of the damage to the vehicles and your injuries
Contact an experienced Sacramento CA Personal Injury Attorney at Tiemann Law Firm now to get your FREE case consultation.