Talking to the Police After a Car Accident
Posted on October 15, 2019 Written By: iadminlaw
Following a car accident, it’s always advisable to contact the police and ask them to file a report. This may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. View some tips and recommendations from I Accident Lawyer.
Talking to the Police After a Car Accident
Being involved in a car accident is always scary; in order to get back on your feet, you’ll need all the help you can get. Of course, that means hiring a car accident lawyer, but even before you get to that stage, it means calling the police.
For some motorists, the thought of talking with the police may seem a little daunting. We would urge you to always have the police dispatched to gather facts and file a report; this can help you get your insurance claim processed, and it may also prove useful if your car accident lawyer ever advises you to take your case to court.
Here is a quick guide of what to say and what to do when the police arrive on the scene.
Talking to the Police: Tips from a Car Accident Lawyer
Call Immediately
First and foremost, we’ll stress again that you should always call the police and have them come file a report… even if there are no obvious injuries and the accident seems fairly minor. Call 911 and let them know no emergency medical care is needed; just an officer who can collect details and file a report.
What the Officer Will Do
When the officer shows up, they will want to speak to all parties involved in the accident, and also to any witnesses. They’re not going to be asking any particularly hard questions. In fact, police reports are always very straightforward. The officer who arrives will want to get the following details:
- The date and time of the accident
- Personal contact information from each driver involved
- Statements from the drivers (explain what happened in your own words)
- Statements from witnesses
- Information about the vehicles involved
- Description of the scene, the road, environmental factors that may have contributed to the accident, etc.
- A report on any injuries
- Any video footage of the accident (if available)
The police officer may also sketch out a very basic diagram of the accident, attempting to illustrate what actually happened in the crash.
What to Say
When it comes your turn to talk with the officer, the best advice our car accident attorney can give is that you simply stick to the facts. Try to avoid getting emotional, expressing anger, or pointing the finger at anyone else. Simply lay out what happened, as best you can recollect.
You should never lie to the police; that’s a recipe for disaster! However, we would also recommend against apologizing or admitting fault. Even if you do think you were the person who caused the accident, there’s no need to say so. Again, just stick to the basic facts, without admitting culpability, and let the police reach their own conclusions.
Additional Tips from a Car Accident Attorney
A few more thoughts about interacting with the police following a car accident:
- Make sure you ask the officer for a copy of the accident report but be advised that you probably won’t get it immediately; it may take a week or two before it’s mailed to you, which is very normal.
- If for some reason the police cannot come to the accident site to file their own report, do your own detective work. Write down a brief summary of what happened and try to collect names and contact information from the other driver(s) as well as witnesses.
- After you talk with the police, that’s a good time to call your car accident lawyer and ask them how to proceed with the insurance claim.
Connect with a Car Accident Attorney Today
To speak with a seasoned car accident lawyer in Southern California, contact I Accident Lawyer at any time.
