The attorneys and staff of Powell, Zero, Mundy are experienced in helping personal injury victims recover compensation for their injuries and move forward. Even settling a claim for personal injuries without litigating it can be an arduous process. Today’s blog discusses how the information and details contained in a police report are important in a personal injury case.

A law enforcement agency, whether local police, county sheriffs, state police, or highway patrol officers, will usually respond to motor vehicle accidents when some personal physical injury and/or significant property damage is incurred. In turn, it will generate a police report reflective of the particular law enforcement agency’s routine investigation into the accident. Drivers and passengers alike are entitled to receive a copy of this report.

A Police Report Contains Important Details of the Case

On one level, a police report is valuable simply because it usually organizes all of the relevant information relating to the incident such as:

• date, time and location of the accident;
• the names and addresses of all parties and witnesses who were involved in and who observed the accident;
• the names and addresses of all injured parties, a summary of their injuries, whether they received medical attention, and whether they were taken to a medical facility;
• description of the vehicles involved in the accident;
• details of the accident, including a diagram of the accident scene showing the layout of the road, position of the vehicles, the location of skid marks and any other notable accident details;
• description of road, weather, and lighting conditions,
• description of property damage apparently resulting from the accident.

The information contained in a police report isn’t always accurate. However, some things may be amended depending upon the fact or detail in question. Accordingly, amending mere factual errors in a report may be relatively simple in contrast to amending a disputed fact such as fault.

Even a minor motor vehicle accident may cause serious injuries that may limit the ability to work and conduct daily activities. If it becomes necessary later to litigate a claim for damages, it will be necessary to possess a copy of the police report related to the incident.