After you get in a car accident, the last thing you feel like doing is dealing with the police. You don’t want to hang around and wait for them to show up. You certainly don’t want to have to stand around while they ask questions and complete their report. It may be really tempting to just agree to not call them all together.
This could be a very big mistake. Although you don’t legally need a police report in order to file a claim, it’s useful. There is just too much valuable information in a police report. Why would you want to proceed without one?
Some of the common reasons people don’t call the police after an accident include:
- The damage to your car is minor
- You and the other driver agree to just handle it through your insurance companies
- The weather is terrible and you just don’t want to stand outside waiting
- You’re in a rush or late for an appointment
- You don’t think you’re hurt
- The other driver begs you not to call the police and you feel bad
None of these are good enough reasons to go without a police report. A Greenville car accident lawyer will tell you – a police report is crucial to your case!
Your Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Knows How Valuable a Police Report Can Be
Your Greenville car accident lawyer knows how important a police report can be. The information contained in that report may not be available any other way. Once you decide not to call the police, you make it almost impossible to get this information later on.
Some of the information contained in a police report include:
- Name, license and insurance information for both drivers
- Name and contact information for witnesses
- Statements made by both drivers
- Witness statements
- Pictures of the scene, road conditions and the vehicles
- Whether either driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident
- Information regarding any citations issued as a result of the accident
Most of this information is lost once you leave the scene of an accident. Witnesses don’t stick around waiting to be interviewed. They’re usually reluctant to talk to strangers and don’t want to get involved. They only give statements to the police because they feel obligated.
If a driver is drunk or on drugs at the time of the accident, the only way to prove it is with the police report. Once he drives away, there’s no way to prove what condition he was in when he hit you. This is why a Greenville car accident lawyer will tell you to always call the police after a car accident.
Your Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Will Rely on That Police Report
It’s not just the information in the report that is valuable to your attorney. It’s also the fact that a report was filed that can be beneficial. When you file your insurance claim, they’re going to want to see proof of what happened. The best way to do this is to include a copy of the police report with your claim.
Both drivers are going to claim that they weren’t responsible for the accident. The only for the insurance company to really know what happened is the police report. A description of the accident by an impartial party is something they want to consider when deciding whether to pay a claim.
As hard as your Greenville car accident lawyer may work to prove your case, why make his job more difficult? Including a copy of the report with your claim could prevent a lot of trouble down the road. It increases the odds of your claim being paid. This could prevent the need for filing an appeal down the road. It can also prevent the need for a lawsuit.
Contact a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer to Discuss Your Case
It’s a good idea to contact a Greenville car accident lawyer immediately following your accident. Your lawyer can review all the evidence and decide if your case is strong enough to pursue. If you suffered legitimate injuries, your attorney will want to accept your case.
In order to prove your case, your Greenville car accident lawyer will need evidence. No evidence is better than the police report.
Call and schedule your free initial consultation today. Your lawyer can let you know what your case may be worth. He can also reach out to the insurance company and try to negotiate a quick settlement. And remember – you pay nothing until you resolve your case.
