Suppose the police don’t report any accident that happened, then it’s as good as saying that the accident didn’t happen. You can try to convince yourself all you want, but the truth is, without a police report, then it can be claimed that the accident didn’t happen.
However, simply because the police failed to show up at the scene of a minor accident still doesn’t mean you would not get sued. Car accident, no police report, driver denies is what this article would be talking about today and also tell if a police report is important or not.
A police report contains written information of what eyewitnesses or victims of a car crash said to the police regarding the accident, and this report also contains observations made by the police regarding weather conditions, the extent of car damage, an injury sustained by the driver or drivers involved and many more.
While this report carries so much weight, it is also considered as hearsay which can still be dismissed in court because the police officer wasn’t there when the accident happened.
The police report’s essence is it helps preserve the accident scene for drivers involved in the accident as they might not be in a good frame of mind or think clearly after the accident. What we are trying to say is that a police report isn’t set in stone, just the ten commandments in the bible, and in all honesty, a police report isn’t enough evidence anyone can make use of in suing you.
It is also possible for insurance claims to proceed even without a police report present, but a police report becomes important if the driver fled the scene.
Car Accident, No Police Report, Driver Denies
Despite all that we have said, a police report still proves to be a beneficial piece of the report because it contains many testimonies. For court cases to proceed, there must be credible information being brought before the judge.
The use of a police report in court is it provides an opportunity to show if the defendant and plaintiff are witnesses that can be trusted. The police report also provides information given by bystanders who witnesses the accident happen, and all of this information also helps a court make a decision.
Regardless, it still isn’t imperative because a plaintiff might choose to come back after some days or months to sue you without needing a police report. All that the plaintiff needs is to be within the statute of limitations.
Another angle you also have to look at is that simply because a police officer wasn’t present at the scene doesn’t mean the plaintiff cannot file a personal incident report. So at this point, it becomes more of a “he said, she said” game.
It then comes down to credible information being provided by witnesses, and it is up to the jury to decide whose story is more believable. We would advise you to do if the other driver at fault denies responsibility for consulting with an attorney.
Having a good attorney beside you would help guide you through the insurance claims process and guide you through a lawsuit if it ever comes down to that. You should leave controlling the communication between you and the insurance companies to your lawyer.
If the liability of a car crash is being disputed, you would need strong advice from legal counsel. This is why we always advise that photographs and car crash evidence from the accident scene should be taken because it might help prove that the other driver is at fault for the accident.
It can be fatal if you delay consulting with an attorney after being involved in a car accident where the at-fault driver isn’t taking responsibility.
Conducting investigations is what the attorney is going to do. However, you should also remember that the sooner investigation is conducted, the better it would be to gather more facts that would help back up the claims you have filed for.
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