Why a Police Report Is Important When You Are Filing an Auto Crash Claim

You must show that the other driver was negligent in causing your car accident if you want to receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries in New Mexico. You do this by collecting evidence that proves your case. A vital piece of evidence that can help you convince the at-fault driver’s insurance company to compensate you is a police report.

Crucial Information That Could Be Contained in a Police Report

Police Officer Writing a ReportWhen you call the police after an auto collision, they would investigate the crash scene and write a police report. While the police report may not be admissible in court, the police officer could testify about it and their conclusions at your trial. In addition, it can be persuasive evidence to convince the insurance adjuster that their insured caused your wreck. Helpful information that a police report will contain includes:

  • Details about the crash. The police report will include important details of the date, place, and time of the collision and how it occurred. You can use this information to prove that the wreck really occurred if the insurance company disputes this.
  • Contact information. The police report will also contain the contact information for the drivers, their insurance companies, passengers, and any witnesses to the accident. You will need this information to file your claim and to contact eyewitnesses who can help you prove that the other driver—and not you—was the negligent party.
  • Statements. The police would interview both drivers and write a summary of their statements in the police report. The negligent driver could make incriminating statements to the police that you can use to establish that they caused your accident. The police could also interview passengers in the vehicles and eyewitnesses.
  • Diagram. The officer could include a diagram of the crash scene and the position of the vehicles at the moment of impact.
  • Injuries. The police would note in their report whether or not anyone was injured in the collision and whether they needed to be transported to a hospital in an ambulance.
  • Pictures. If your accident was serious, the police officer could take photos of the damage to the vehicles, the crash scene, and your injuries, and attach them to the police report.
  • Determination of fault. The officer would also include a conclusion about who was at fault in causing the car collision.
  • Tickets. If either driver were issued a traffic citation, the police officer would note this in their police report. This could be compelling evidence you could use to convince the insurance company of their liability to compensate you for your injuries.

Were you or a family member injured in a car accident in Southeast New Mexico or Roswell? Our experienced car accident lawyers will collect the evidence you need to win your case and fight with the insurance company so that you receive the maximum recovery in your settlement. To find out more about your rights and how we can assist you, start a live chat or fill out our online form to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation today.

 

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