Unexpected vehicle accidents can be traumatic, especially if it was you, or members of your family, that were injured through no fault of your own. It will probably be the first time something like this has ever happened to you and it can be hard to know how to deal with it.
These tips are designed to help you deal with the police after the accident, something which will help you later if you decide to file a personal injury claim.
Tip #1: Call the Police and Wait for Them to Come To the Scene of the Accident
Whether the accident only involved damage to vehicles, or whether one or more people were injured, it is important to contact the police as soon as you can.
In most states, it is illegal to leave the scene of the accident if someone has been injured before police arrive, unless of course you are so badly injured that you need immediate hospital attention. Before you call the police make sure you and others are safe and injuries are identified and dealt with as best they can.
Tip #2: Give a Detailed Account of What Happened to the Police Officer
The police officer(s) will want to ask you what happened and include the information in a police report. It is important to describe events as exactly as you can as they happened. Keep calm and try to be factual and not over emotional.
Tip #3: Note who the Police Officer was and Where He or She was Based.
It will be important later on to have a copy of the police report. To do so, you will need to find out how to get a copy. It is likely that the police officer will write up a full report afterwards at the station using information he or she has found out at the crash scene.
Make sure you record the police officer’s name, number and the police station that he or she is based at so you can follow up the whereabouts of the report later.
Tip #4: Make Sure You Obtain a Copy of the Police Report of the Accident
If you intend filing a claim for compensation at some stage you will find that any evidence which supports your claim will really help your case. The reason that the police report is so important is that it is compiled by someone who is a neutral, yet official observer, which gives it more weight.
It will also have information about the crash just after it happened. It can be hard to obtain useful evidence much later on, yet a successful personal injury claim depends on any useful evidence which helps to prove who was at fault.
Tip #5: Talk To a Personal Injury Attorney As Soon As You Can
Filing a personal injury claim can be much harder than your think. You owe it to yourself and your family to make sure you obtain the level of compensation which you deserve and need. You are much more likely to do that if you first talk to a personal injury attorney.
The attorney can assess your accident circumstances, give advice and actively pursue your claim on your behalf.
