Proving liability in a personal injury accident is not as straightforward as one would think. It requires many different types of evidence in order to determine who was liable for the accident. One of the most important pieces of evidence when it comes to determining liability in a personal injury accident is a police report.
If you have been involved in a car accident, it’s important to call 911. The dispatcher will send a police officer to the scene to evaluate the circumstances of what happened and file a police report that includes a summary of the accident.
Police reports generally contain a lot of information pertaining to the accident, such as:
It is important that you obtain a copy of the police report after the accident from the local law enforcement office that filed the report for your own records and to keep as evidence.
The insurance company of the at-fault party will promptly request a copy of the report once they are aware of the accident. The insurance adjuster will examine the report in order to gather details of the accident and determine who was to blame for the accident. However, the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster will still organize their own investigation of the accident. It is possible that the insurance adjuster will disagree with the police officer's opinion stated in the police report and try to devalue your claim by using other pieces of information and findings of the accident.
Regardless of whether or not the insurance adjuster disagrees with the findings of the police report, it is absolutely essential that you file a police report as it is a valuable piece of evidence and can strengthen your case.
If you have been involved in an auto accident, it is in your best interest to consult with a trusted personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles to protect your rights. Our team will be able to provide you with guidance and legal representation to ensure that you get the justice you deserve.
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