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How To Get A Police Report For My Car Accident
How To Get A Police Report For My Car Accident
When you are involved in a car accident, the police will come to the scene and write a report. This report can later help you build a strong case if you decide to file a personal injury case. You have the right to pursue compensation if you got injured in an accident caused by another driver. This compensation can cover the medical bills, lost wages, and other damages that are related to that accident. An experienced lawyer can help you get a police report for your car accident.
Why A Police Report Is Important
A police report contains details about your car accident that can help you prove the other driver caused the accident that led to your injuries. If you can prove the other driver was responsible, that driver will be held liable for your damages. You can find the following information in a police report:
- Date and location of the crash
- Statements from witnesses
- Contact information of the drivers involved
- The officer’s understanding about what happened
Insurance companies and courts rely heavily on police reports because the police do not get any benefit from not telling the truth or leaving things out. Adjusters accept police reports as the most accurate evaluation of the car accident.
How To Get A Copy Of Your Accident Report
For accidents that happened in Houston, victims can obtain a copy of the police report from the Houston Police Department (HPD). You can obtain a copy of the report in the following ways
- A copy of the report may be sent to you by mail if you send a request by mail. You will pay a fee of $6.
- You must go in person to the HPD Record Division at 1200 Travis St., Houston, TX 77002 to get a full report. You will pay $6 for the full report.
- You can get a redacted copy online for a $7.50 fee. Redacted copies do not have all the information you may need for your case.
A copy of the police report is available within one or two days after the accident. The details you need to obtain the report include the date of the accident, the area the accident happened, and the names of the drivers that were involved. In case you obtain a report that has certain information written in code or abbreviations you don’t understand, you can ask the police department to explain to you what they mean.
Steps To Take After A Car Accident
The first thing you should do after a car accident is call 911. Law enforcement will arrive at the accident scene to make a report, and you will also get emergency medical attention. Following a car accident you can also the steps below:
- Take pictures of injuries and the accident scene
- Exchange insurance information with other drivers involved in the accident
- Talk to witnesses and ask for their contact information
- Keep all the medical documentation you get
All these things together with the police report can help you build a strong case that will make it harder for insurance companies to deny your claim. Your lawyer can help you get the police report and can negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies.