After an accident, you likely have a lot of documentation and information to organize. However, one of the most important documents to have after experiencing a car crash is an accident report.
While police reports are important for documenting an accident related to a suspected traffic offense and potential investigation, an accident report is the baseline of information for several areas, including law enforcement, insurance, legal claims, and more. Understanding what an accident report in Colorado is, why it’s important, and how to request one are all critical to ensuring you recoup whatever compensation you might be entitled to down the line.
What Are Accident Reports?
Understanding the difference between accident reports and other reports you might have after an accident will set you up for success as you handle the sometimes overwhelming period after suffering an accident.
An accident report is a foundational document that guides your post-accident steps, like filing a claim, agreeing to a settlement, or bringing your case to trial. While you might also collect police reports, insurance reports, and personal injury claims after a crash, an accident report serves as the reputable and official details that inform so many other pieces of the puzzle. Accident reports detail the specifics of what happened during a crash, such as date, time, location, injuries sustained, damages that resulted, or environmental elements.
Importance of an Accident Report
Accident reports do a great job outlining what happened during a crash, but their biggest significance is how much they can impact your future coverage and rights. The specifics included in the accident report could inform a number of elements, like:
- Who is found at fault for an accident
- How your insurance company handles your claim
- Who pays the necessary damages and compensation amounts
Below are three main reasons why it’s critical to get an accident report after a crash, even a minor one.
Serves as Official Record of Evidence and Injuries
Legal proceedings, settlements, and trials all have one element in common: evidence. Accident and police reports act as an official and credible account of evidence for an accident, whether that be injuries you or another party sustained, damages to property, or environmental factors like roadway conditions.
Supports Injury Claims and Proving Fault
The specifics of an accident report often have significant impacts on bigger pieces like insurance claim outcomes and accident fault. Making sure you have a thorough and accurate accident report prepares you, and any legal support you have, with the tools to handle insurance coverage, legal proceedings, or compensation considerations.
While police reports often play a role in insurance claims or legal proceedings to prove fault or criminal charges, having an accurate accident report is the best way you can set yourself up for success in these scenarios.
Read More: Find Out More About What’s Included in a Car Accident Police Report
Impacts Insurance Coverage and Protections
Suffering an accident can be life-altering for years down the line, so having an accurate accident report puts you in the best possible position to get critical insurance coverage. Records of car accidents can impact your insurance rates – especially if you are found at fault. A number of factors go into determining your future coverage from an insurance agency, like the seriousness of a crash, the person at fault, the type of violation committed, your age, your driving record, and where you live.
Each state differs in how long it maintains accident records for drivers. The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) maintains drivers’ accident records for seven years. While not every car accident must be reported to the DMV, an accident requiring the police will be reported to the department.
Whether you believe you are at fault for an accident or not, obtaining an accident report is a necessary step in getting fair and justified coverage later on.
How to Get an Accident Report
Obtaining an accident report is usually easy, thanks to modern technology. In Colorado, you can request an accident report online, over the phone, or in person. The Colorado DMV has a helpful crash reporting page where you can get information on police involvement, file a crash report yourself, or get a copy of a report for a crash you were involved in.
Don’t Leave Anything Up to Chance
Accident reports are the paper trail that records what, when, and how a crash happened. Making sure you have a thorough and accurate accident report is one of the best ways to get some post-accident peace of mind after an accident. As the baseline information document, your accident report means your insurance, police, and legal documentation can all line up the way you want them to.
Seeking a free, official Colorado police report for your accident? Get yours today!