Police Reports in Auto Accident Claims

After a car accident, it’s important to protect yourself and your potential personal injury claim by contacting the police. Both insurance companies will look at the police report and use it in the investigation of the accident. Not only must you file a police report, you must also check it for accuracy and clarity. Police officers are not infallible, and it’s possible for their reports to have mistakes.

If you’ve been involved in a car crash in Biloxi, it’s crucial to act quickly and find out if you can pursue compensation. Call Gardner Law Group at 228-436-6555 to get started.

Information Included in a Police Report

A thorough police report offers information critical to your crash investigation. Look over your completed report to find:

Who was involved: Both drivers should be named and contact information may be included.

Time and location: Having proof of when and where the accident occurred is helpful during negotiations, as it may prove weather or traffic conditions.

An overview of the accident scene: The police officer may make observations on the crash scene, the vehicles’ final resting places, and damage to both vehicles.

Information from all involved parties: The police officer will get statements from both drivers and witnesses of the accident, then include that in their report.
Citations given: This is a critical part of your claim. If either party was cited at the scene, that information should be in the police report.

Proving Liability

One of the main uses for the police report is to prove liability. If a party was cited at the scene of the crash, that shows that they violated the law. If that violation caused the collision, it’s hard to argue that the cited party isn’t liable. Additionally, the police officer’s observations can be helpful in figuring out what went wrong during the crash. The location of the vehicles and the nature of the damage may provide insight into whose error led to the collision.

How Insurance Companies Use Police Reports

Insurance companies use police reports as they attempt to determine liability and decide if they will offer compensation. The police report is a primary source of information, highlighting the sequence of events, giving clues about liability, and providing an overview of damages suffered by both parties.

In some cases, the police report is the most important piece of evidence when an insurance adjuster is deciding how to proceed. If one party is cited, for example, the other party’s insurance company may automatically assume they are at fault. Each party’s insurance company will also use this information when deciding how much of their client’s damages they will cover or if they will deny the claim.

Challenges Posed by Police Reports

While police reports can be a great source of crash information in Biloxi, they aren’t perfect. Police officers may get incorrect information, analyze the crash scene inaccurately, or be blinded by their own assumptions. Unfortunately, this makes it very hard for the affected party to fight for compensation. They need to prove that the police report is wrong and provide enough evidence to overcome the other insurance company’s objections.

When an officer analyzes a crash scene, they are often working on a tight schedule. They have minimal time to gather data and condense it before the scene has to be cleared up to prevent backed-up traffic and additional accidents. Additionally, police officers may not always be as subjective as they should be. Their interpretations may be based on their previous experiences, rather than the evidence in front of them. Furthermore, if they know either of the involved parties, this can skew their report one way or the other.

It’s important to keep these issues in mind when reading a police report. While these reports are generally straightforward and accurate, you must read them thoroughly to uncover potential errors that may affect your claim.

Explore Your Legal Options with Gardner Law Group

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Biloxi or Pascagoula, it’s time to set up a consultation with Gardner Law Group. Our team is here to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Call us at 228-436-6555 or connect with us online to set up a time to meet.