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How Police Report Information can Improve Your Chances of Justice

Police officers are put through an extensive training process to analyze auto accidents. Experienced police officers have investigated numerous different types of collisions. The police report is likely to contain key information that bolsters your claim and helps you prove liability. If it can be proven another party acted in a negligent manner, your quest for financial compensation will prove that much easier.

Police reports detailing auto accidents typically contain an abundance of essential information including:

Injuries: If the accident prompted a call to emergency services or if you reported one or several injuries at the accident scene, the police officer will likely include this information within the official accident report.

Accident Details: The location, time and date of the accident are included at the top of the report. These details are essential to establish that the collision actually occurred.

Citations: The police officer might have determined one or several other drivers involved in the accident were in violation of a traffic law. In fact, the police officer might have even cited the driver(s) in the wrong. Such information will likely be included in the official report.

Road Conditions and Weather: The police officer might detail the road conditions and weather in the official accident report. Such details are likely to be included if they played a role in the accident.

A Narration of the Events: The law enforcement officer will ask questions of you as well as the other drivers involved in the accident. These statements will be summarized on the police report. The officer might even reach a conclusion after in-depth analysis and include determination in the official report.

Contact Information: The police report will include your contact information as well as that for the other driver(s) and passengers. Even the contact information of eyewitnesses will be included in the police report. Additional information pertaining to the other driver(s)’ auto insurance will be included. This information is necessary to file an accident claim with the auto insurer. However, it is up to you to request such auto insurance information from the other drivers involved in the accident. Once this information is in-hand, you will be able to file your claim.

How a Police Report can Boost Your Case

An official police report detailing the auto accident can help your case in myriad ways. As an example, the official accident report explains what occurred from the perspective of the police officer. If the case reaches trial, the accident report will help the responding officer to remember the specific details of the case. The most comprehensive police reports include information about witnesses and their contact information. The report will also provide additional details that help your personal injury attorney pinpoint evidence that is essential to your quest for justice.

Finally, the police report will help enhance your attorney’s negotiating power. Auto insurance adjusters typically read every last detail of police reports as responding officers are completely objective. Our legal team will highlight information within the report that reinforces your rendition of the events to ultimately prove the other driver(s) is guilty of negligence. Negligence is a legal term meaning carelessness.

Can Police Reports be used in a Court of Law as a Form of Evidence?

In general, police reports are not admissible as evidence in a court of law. Though police reports might be used as a form of evidence in small claims courts that do not adhere to all the rules of evidence, state courts typically adhere to the nuanced rules of evidence. Therefore, state courts often view police auto accident reports as a form of hearsay. However, there is the potential for some courts to consider police auto accident reports as an exception. In some cases, it is necessary for the responding police officer to testify in court.

Discuss Your Case With our Personal Injury Attorneys as Soon as Possible

If you are unsure if you qualify to file an auto accident claim, reach out to our personal injury law firm today led by Richard Schibell. Richard Schibell will review the nuances of your specific auto accident, identify the legal options suitable for your case and spearhead your quest for justice. Our law firm provides no-cost consultations. Give us a call at 732-774-1000 to schedule an initial consultation.

Richard N. Schibell, Esq.

is the founding partner at Schibell Law LLC concentrating in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation throughout New Jersey. Mr. Richard N Schibell graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts, concentrating in both Philosophy and History. He went on to receive his Juris Doctorate degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Following his graduation from law school, Mr. Schibell served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard W. English, J.S.C., in the Civil Division of the Monmouth County Superior Court.