After a serious car accident, your next line of action can impact your ability to get fair compensation.
Among the numerous important steps, the most crucial is filing a car wreck report after the fact that you just survived a major crash. Car accident reports offer an unbiased incident record that often provides substantial evidence when you file a claim for injuries, losses, or damages.
In numerous scenarios, you are duty-bound to report an accident to law enforcement agents, especially if there are disputes about who’s at fault, injuries, or severe property damage.
Without this information, establishing fault and proving your claim will be challenging. This article will enlighten more on car accident reports, the crucial information that must be included in the report, and more.
Why Are Car Accident Reports Vital?
A car accident report is the basis for building a compensation claim. This report documents everything about the car accident, including the events that led to it and its immediate results.
This record provides an unbiased view, vital when dealing with insurance companies and their adjusters or legal disagreements. If you fail to present a car accident report, the court will rely on conflicting statements from all the parties involved.
This makes it impossible to state the facts of the incident or for the court to determine fault. The report eradicates confusion, thereby providing clarity about the accident.
The Important Information Included In Your Car Accident Report
It’s vital for you to gather all the crucial information at the scene of your car accident, including taking photographs and notes. Here is some essential information that’s included in a car accident report.
The Names And Contact Of Everyone Involved
In your car accident report, you must thoroughly describe the incident. Ask these questions: Were the driver and his passenger wearing seatbelts? Was he driving too close to your car? Was he too close to the curb when he turned?
Even if this information looks irrelevant, still make sure to write it down. Do not guess or speculate. If you don’t know about something, voice it out. If you are not sure whether you sustained injuries, say, “I’m not sure yet.” If you find out later that you were injured, inform the police immediately.
Other important details include:
- Weather conditions
- Time and date of the car accident
- Your driving speed and that of the other driver
- Road hazards such as potholes, roadblocks, excessive traffic, etc.
Witness Accounts
Ensure you collect witnesses’ names and phone numbers at the accident scene. If you can, use your mobile phone to record their own account of what they witnessed. Even if you think they didn’t see what happened, just collect their contact information, as it can be helpful in any future legal action.
Photos Of The Accident Scene
If any damages are done to your body and vehicle, it must be recorded in the car accident report. Using your mobile phone, you can take quick pictures of the visible injury and damage. Just ensure it doesn’t interfere with the police’s ongoing investigation.
If you notice scarring or bruising later on, take pictures and report it to the police. Do not forget to add it to the report. Some other details you shouldn’t overlook are:
- Debris such as broken car parts, shattered glasses, bits of tire rubber
- Skid marks on the accident scene
- The weather or environment (icy roads, cloudy skies, or snow banks)
- The intersection (street signs and lights)
The Other Driver’s Details
Collecting and recording the other driver’s information will make your life less stressful if the police rule in favor of the other driver. Here are some crucial details that a police report will contain.
- The driver’s name and address
- Their vehicle model, make, and plate number
- The number of passengers in their vehicle and their ages
- Visible vehicle defects such as bad brake lights and faulty windshield wipers
Other factors could have distracted the driver, such as a young kid in the backseat or an item in their car that obstructed their view of the road.
The more information on the car accident report, the easier and more stress-free your case will be. Do not underestimate the power of a car accident report, as it can save you a lot of time, money, and resources.
