If you’ve suffered an auto accident, obtaining a police report is a good idea — no matter if the accident was major or minor. Police reports can prove very useful for a number of reasons after an accident, as they are an essential source of evidence for personal injury claims, court cases, settlement cases, insurance claims, and personal records. This guide helps you understand what a police report is and why it’s important so that you can be prepared when working with insurance, navigating legal support, seeking compensation, and more.
The Value of a Police Report
If you’ve suffered an auto accident, one of your first courses of action should be to obtain a police report with the right information. In fact, police reports are valuable records to have that can help you navigate processes and claims down the line. Be sure that the police report created for your accident includes the right information, like the following:
- Date, time, and location of the incident
- Weather and road conditions during the accident
- Descriptions of any vehicle damage and visible, sustained injuries
- Any issued traffic violations or citations
- Witness accounts of the incident
- Details about the individuals involved in the accident (including vehicle information)
- Insurance provider details
You might be wondering: do I need a police report after a car accident, even if it’s minor? The answer is: Yes. It’s a smart idea to obtain a police report after a car accident of any caliber in order to protect your rights, seek compensation, support your legal case, and simplify your insurance claims. Understanding the value and types of police reports will help you in a handful of ways as you navigate post-accident processes.
Types of Police Reports
Each state handles police reports a bit differently, but there are a few general types of police reports that law enforcement uses in any given situation. Once you comprehend the different types of police reports, you will understand their value in legal, insurance-related, or personal scenarios.
Police reports can be specific to:
- Accidents: Provides information regarding traffic collisions and crashes, including circumstantial information and any injuries involved
- Incidents: Documents the details of events that law enforcement encounter, such as criminal activities, traffic violations, disturbances, or other situations
- Arrests: Records the information and circumstances regarding an individual’s detention
- Investigations: Offers information that could help solve a crime or complex case, such as the development of leads, suspect details, and more
- Analytics: Examines patterns, trends, and statistics related to criminal activity
- Use of Force: Documents any incident where officers apply physical force
- Criminal Cases: Summarizes information for a criminal case and other reports involved
When you understand what information law enforcement collects in a given situation, you can be more informed about how to use evidence and documentation to your advantage after an accident.
How Police Reports Are Used in Court
If you suffered an auto accident and file a personal injury case that moves to the settlement stage or goes to court, police reports can play a significant role in helping you establish fault and gain compensation. In settlement and court cases, police reports play a major role in the following ways:
- Filing other claims, like insurance or legal claims, such as personal injury
- Collecting evidence and verifying accuracy to support your case
- Establishing liability and negligence (especially in a personal injury case)
- Strengthening your overall case and lending credibility to your claim
- Determining compensation owed
No matter what your legal or insurance situation looks like after you suffer an accident, having a police report as a significant piece of documentation will set you, your legal counsel, and your insurance company up for success.
Police Reports and Insurance Claims
A police report is not always required to file an insurance claim after an accident, but having a report can speed up insurance processes and strengthen your case. Insurance companies help you handle details regarding your vehicle’s damages, your own injuries, or any other losses involved, so having a credible, thorough police report from law enforcement boosts your case’s credibility. Additionally, having one can act as a simple signal of importance, as it means the accident was serious enough for law enforcement to get involved.
Read More: Curious How a Police Report Compares to an Insurance Report? Learn the Difference
How Do I Request a Police Report?
If you’ve suffered an accident, obtaining a police report for your own records and future insurance or legal processes is critical. Securing a record of your police report looks different in every state, but you can get your report easily in Denver, Colorado.
If you’ve experienced an accident, don’t hesitate to request your free car accident report via Colorado Police Report. The sooner you obtain the right documentation, the sooner you can prepare for your personal records, insurance claims, and legal cases.
There are other ways to get your police report, but they are not as simple. While you can also request your police report on the Police Records page of Denver’s government website, this process might be more intensive, and you’ll have to pay an order fee.
We know that securing your own records shouldn’t be hard. You deserve a free police report for your accident without a hassle. Get yours today!