A car accident can leave a person with serious personal injuries and extensive vehicle damage. However, even in minor collisions, both parties need to take steps to legally protect themselves. This is where filing a police report comes in. Below, learn about the importance of these reports, as well as a few tips for filing one.

Why Is Filing a Police Report Important?

A police report offers a neutral, objective description of the accident and the damage caused. It is the first official documentation of the accident and serves as a crucial piece of evidence that will be important to all parties involved, their insurers, and their attorneys.

Because emotions are often running high in the immediate aftermath of a crash, the police report provides an unbiased perspective that attests to the basic facts of the accident. Insurers use this information to pay out claims, and attorneys utilize it to build legal strategies.

Even if the crash was a minor fender-bender, a police report is still critical, as it can protect each party if one side decides to sue later or if one party experiences the first symptoms of an injury hours or days after the initial collision. For a crash that resulted in a personal injury or a death, it is a crime in New York State to leave the scene of an accident and not file a police report.

Tips for Filing a Police Report

You will be asked to provide basic information about yourself and about the accident. For example, tell the police your name, address, and phone number, as well as your insurance details. You will have to state exactly what happened, so keep to the facts, don't theorize, and try to remain collected.

Never admit fault for the accident, even if you think you caused it. The police investigate all accidents, and there may be extenuating factors that you aren't aware of. If there are witnesses to the crash, provide their names and contact information. Next, describe any personal injuries and vehicle damage.

If the police aren't called to the scene, go to the station and file a report on your own. It's not uncommon for a liable party to initially claim responsibility before changing their story later, and a police report gets the facts down before this can occur.

If you have questions or concerns about filing a police report, consult an accident or personal injury lawyer. The team at Neimark & Neimark is here to help. They have more than 40 years of experience serving Orange and Rockland counties, NY. They offer representation for all types of injury cases, including car accidents and medical malpractice claims. Call (888) 725-7424 or visit them online to learn more.