If you are involved in a Middletown car accident, information and documentation are extremely important if you want to make a claim for injuries and losses. One source of information is a police report. The report is created by the officer at the scene and contains relevant information about the car accident. It is important to understand the type of information that is contained within a police report and how it is used in a car accident case. If you need help, a Middletown car accident lawyer could evaluate the report and handle your car accident case on your behalf.
What Information Is In The Police Report?
Not all police reports are the same, but most contain the following information:
- Date and Time: The report will indicate when the accident occurred. This information is useful for documentation purposes and understanding the circumstances of the accident. For example, if the accident occurred late at night.
- Location: The report will also contain where the accident happened. This will also document the accident and indicate if the accident was on a busy street, highway or neighborhood.
- Weather Conditions: The report will show if it was raining, foggy or clear.
- Road Conditions: The report will show the condition of the road such as if it was wet, had snow or was clear. Other road conditions such as pot holes or debris might also be reported.
- Traffic Controls: The report will indicate if any signs or lights were present at the scene of the accident and which driver had them.
- Collision Type: The report will show how the vehicle was hit such a rear end collision, side swipe or hit and run.
- Property Damage: The report will document the type and location of damage on each of the vehicles.
- Vehicle Information: The report will document the vehicles involved, the owner’s information and registration information.
- Occupant Information: The report may show who was in each vehicle, where they were sitting and if anything happened to them.
- Witness Information: The report may contain information of any persons who witnessed the accident.
- Citations: The report will indicate if any tickets were given as a result of the accident. For example, the other driver might have received a ticket for speeding or failing to obey a stop sign.
- Description: On some reports, there is a space where the officer can write a brief description of what occurred or draw a diagram of the accident scene.
How Are Police Reports Used?
A police report alone will not determine the outcome of your case. However, they can be a helpful tool to assist you with your car accident claim. First, the report documents the accident by showing what happened, how it happened and who was involved. The report can also be submitted to insurance companies when making a claim or used during settlement negotiations in order to receive compensation. Police reports can also be used in court when a car accident lawsuit is filed. An experienced Middletown car accident lawyer would be able to review a police report and use it to negotiate with insurance companies or present your case in court.
Contact a Middletown, RI Car Accident Lawyer
Our car accident lawyers at d’Oliveira & Associates have years of experience in handling these types of cases. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, contact one of our experienced Middletown car accident lawyers located at 1521 West Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering, among other losses. No fees are received unless you win your case. For a free (no obligation) case evaluation, call us at 401-846-5449 or toll free at 1-800-992-6878. You may also fill out our contact form online.
Paul d’Oliveira
Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.
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