There’s some information out there in the world that you simply wish you didn’t need to know, like what car accident reports and how to file them. If you need to use or reference this information, it probably means you’re involved in a vehicle wreck of some kind.
Whether it’s one vehicle, two, or a multi-car pileup, an accident report is almost always a necessity. To help guide you, here’s a closer look at why documenting every accident matters and what you need to know about accident reports.
Why Vehicle Accident Reports Matter
The primary reason car accident reports matter is the law—Florida statute Section 316.065 requires all car collisions, even those involving a single vehicle, to be reported to the authorities. The only exception is if there are no injuries and property damage is under $500. In this situation, the law leaves it up to the driver to report the accident.
Creates an Official Record
Your report is an official record of the accident and contains crucial information: the date, time, and location of the accident are included in the report, along with the names and contact information of the involved parties.
Your report also includes official observations from the responding officers and lists any charges or citations that are issued in response to the accident.
Determines Fault
Florida is a no-fault state, which means each involved driver seeks compensation from their auto insurance provider. However, a driver can seek compensation from the at-fault party if the car accident results in severe injuries and/or major property damage.
Your accident report will often list who is responsible for the accident, and if both drivers are at fault, the report can clarify who is more to blame. Even if you’re partially at fault, you may still be able to sue for damages.
Support Your Insurance and Legal Claim
Trying to file a claim with your insurance company without an official accident report is virtually impossible. Your report is one of the first things your insurance adjuster will request, which also applies if you plan on filing a personal injury and/or property damage claim.
This is also something to consider if the accident results in limited damage and no injuries. If you want to receive compensation for repairing a dented bumper, you’ll need the police report. You can file a report with the police after the accident, but don’t wait too long.
You have ten days from the accident date to file a report with the authorities. If you wait past the filing deadline, you may not be able to report the accident.
Your accident report provides the necessary proof to show the vehicle collision occurred and that you’re not trying to scam the insurance company or the legal system.
Provides Accurate and Objective Information
You may feel like you can provide accurate and objective details about the accident, but your emotions are probably running a little high. If you sustained injuries in the accident, your recollection may be cloudy.
Confusion is common after experiencing a traumatic or stressful event, and a car accident qualifies as both. Memories can fade and change, and this is also normal. However, it can also make witness statements less reliable.
A police accident report is objective since the responding officers don’t have a stake in the accident—they don’t care who wins a court case or insurance claim. Their job is to provide accurate and objective information without any bias.
Dispute Defense Arguments
A defense attorney’s job is to protect their client from your personal injury claim, even when they’re representing the at-fault driver. Everyone is entitled to a legal defense, and this includes the individual you’re suing.
A capable defense attorney can cast reasonable doubt on your statements and those of any witnesses. However, the facts contained in an accident reported are indisputable. Your report can support your account of the accident and prevent the defense attorney from planting doubt in the minds of the jury or judge.
Accident Reports Help Improve Safety
Everyone from insurance companies to local, state, and federal governments track vehicle accident rates. While they can treat accident statistics like the population count—you know, going door to door across the country asking if anyone at the residence has been involved in a car collision—but, this isn’t effective or efficient. A better way to do this is by compiling the information in accident reports.
With an accident report, everything from the type of accident and the number of vehicles involved to the location can be easily tracked. With this information, governments have a better idea of where dangerous roads and intersections are located. This way, they can take steps to make the roads safer for everyone.
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