Explore the Reasons Why a Police Report is Essential to Prove Your Injury Claim Following an Accident in Wall, Tinton Falls, Manasquan, and Howell
If you have been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, it is essential that you have all of the information and evidence you need to make a strong claim and recover injury expenses. One of the primary resources that insurance companies, lawyers, and judges use to determine what happened in an accident and, therefore, who is at fault is a police report. A detailed police report provides a depth and breadth of information gathered by law enforcement, including the testimonies of involved individuals and witnesses. Because of its proximity in time to the event, as well as its multifaceted account of the conditions surrounding the injury-causing accident, a police report is one of the most robust pieces of evidence that exists following an accident.
Contact our talented team of personal injury lawyers if you have been injured in a car accident, bike accident, motorcycle accident, pedestrian accident, or another type of accident due to someone else’s negligence in New Jersey. We will help you gather all of the appropriate evidence that you need to build a strong claim for compensation, including coverage of medical expenses, injury-related out-of-pocket costs, lost wages, long-term disability benefits, and pain and suffering. Read on to learn more about that crucial element of your claim, the police report.
What Makes Police Reports Invaluable in Personal Injury Cases in NJ?
Police reports provide a comprehensive summary of an accident. The details included in the police report help injured victims seeking compensation for personal injury, as well as auto insurance companies who need to understand what happened in an accident to conduct appropriate next steps regarding their clients and associated parties. While a police report is a solid source of information regarding the conditions surrounding an accident, testimony, and the officer’s opinion on fault, a personal injury attorney or insurance company may conduct their own investigation into the events that led up to the accident to develop their own opinion of liability.
What is the Protocol for Police Officers Investigating a Crash?
When someone calls the authorities to report an accident, a law enforcement officer will arrive at the scene as promptly as possible. Upon ensuring that everyone is safe and medical attention is provided, they will conduct a thorough review of the accident, including gathering documentation of involved parties; taking witness statements; documenting road, weather, and traffic conditions surrounding the accident, and otherwise summarizing the event. Their review is compiled into a police report. The report contains the time and location of the accident, a description of what evidence shows to have occurred, witness statements, and facts surrounding the incident. The police report becomes available to the public shortly after being issued.
Channels to Obtain a Police Report in New Jersey
In New Jersey, you can request a copy of a police report at the police station, online, or by mail. There is a nominal fee for the report.
The Police Report, the Cornerstone of Your Accident Claim
When an accident results in injury or serious property damage, a police report is required. As such, in order for a victim to receive personal injury compensation after an injury accident, there must be a police report for the incident.
Police reports contain crucial information that can help you prove your personal injury claim. For example, a police report contains detailed and often photographic evidence of damage that can clearly show how an accident occurred and who was responsible. Victim, responsible party, and third-party witness testimony provides additional proof of fault or liability in a personal injury claim. In many cases, the responsible party’s insurance company will choose to settle based on the clarity of fault of their client found in the police report.
Talk to an Experienced NJ Personal Injury Lawyer to Take Full Advantage of the Police Report in Your Accident Case
When you have been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, the most important thing for you to do is focus on your physical and emotional recovery. However, time is also of the essence when pursuing a personal injury claim. Our legal team is experienced in helping our clients in Manasquan, Brick, Sea Girt, Neptune, Asbury Park, Brielle, Wall, Spring Lake, Point Pleasant, Monmouth County, Ocean County, and across New Jersey to recover full damages for their to-date and ongoing accident injuries while they focus on their health.
We conduct a thorough investigation to corroborate the information provided in the police report and act on your behalf in negotiations with the responsible party’s insurance company. Our trial attorneys are also skilled in litigating accident cases to obtain full compensation for our clients through successful jury awards. If you have been injured in an accident, contact us today for a free consultation to learn how we can help you get back on your feet with your financial stability intact. Call (732) 303-7857 or contact us online for your free consultation with a personal injury attorney on our team.