Filing a Police Report After a Car Accident
Many people assume it’s unnecessary to file a police report after a car accident—especially when the crash seems minor. This is a mistake. A police report is one of the most important pieces of evidence you can have if you later seek compensation for injuries or property damage. Car accident lawyers and insurance companies rely heavily on this documentation to evaluate your claim.
After an accident, adrenaline can mask pain and injury. Symptoms may appear hours or even days later. Having a police report, along with timely medical treatment, provides strong documentation of what happened and supports your claim for compensation. Even in seemingly minor collisions, protecting yourself by filing a police or accident report is always the safest approach.
Why a Police Report Matters
A police report offers accurate, impartial, third-party documentation of the accident. Because it’s created by an uninvolved law enforcement officer, it often carries more weight than the statements of the drivers involved.
Insurance companies depend on these reports to assess claims. If you pursue a personal injury case, having a police report can significantly strengthen your legal position.
What Information a Police Report Includes
Police reports provide objective details about many aspects of a crash, such as:
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Exact location of the accident
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Date and time the accident occurred
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Damage to vehicles and other property
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Reported injuries to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or others
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Witness statements and contact information
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Statements from the drivers involved
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Environmental conditions (weather, road conditions, lighting)
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Other relevant observations made by the officer
This documentation not only supports your claim but can also protect you if you’re falsely accused of causing additional damage or injuries. Whether you are the plaintiff or the defendant, an official police report is highly valuable and is generally viewed as credible by insurance companies, attorneys, and juries.
How to File a Police Report After a Car Accident
If you are involved in an auto accident, follow these steps to ensure a police report is filed:
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Call the police immediately at the scene. This should be your first step after ensuring safety.
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Provide accurate information to the responding officer. You will be interviewed about what happened. The officer will also gather statements from the other driver(s) and witnesses.
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Request a copy of the report. Once the police finalize it—typically within hours or by the next day—obtain a copy for yourself and send one to your insurance provider.
Get Legal Help for Your Auto Accident Case
If you are filing a personal injury claim against an at-fault driver, it’s important to have strong, experienced legal representation. Personal injury cases are subject to statutes of limitations, so it’s best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Many law firms offer free consultations to help you understand your rights and next steps.
Article written by Attorney Aaron Crane.
Aaron Crane has helped personal injury clients for over 14 years and is highly trained in all areas of injury law, including car accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and general injury tort cases. He has recovered more than $10 million in settlements for his clients.
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Why Filing a Police Report After a Car Accident Matters
After a car accident, many people believe they don’t need to file a police report—especially if the crash seems minor. But at Applebaum Accident Group, we’ve seen time and time again how crucial a police report becomes when an injured person needs to file an insurance claim or pursue compensation. This document can make the difference between a strong case and a difficult battle.
Even when the collision appears minor, symptoms of injury often don’t show up until hours or even days later. Adrenaline masks pain, and only after you’ve left the scene do you begin to feel the true effects of the crash. Having a police report and seeking medical attention as soon as symptoms appear creates the reliable documentation needed to connect your injuries to the accident—something insurance companies always look for.
Protecting your health and your legal rights starts with filing a police report every single time.
The Value of a Police Report in Your Claim
A police report gives you something that your own statement or the other driver’s statement cannot: an unbiased, third-party account of what happened. Insurance companies rely heavily on these reports when deciding who is at fault and how much they are willing to pay.
If you choose to pursue a personal injury claim, a police report strengthens your case in several ways:
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It creates a trustworthy record of the crash.
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It clarifies what happened before anyone’s memory fades.
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It helps prevent the other driver from changing their story.
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It provides supporting details attorneys can use to secure fair compensation.
A police report doesn’t guarantee the outcome of your case, but it gives you a major advantage—especially when the other party tries to dispute fault or deny your injuries.
What’s Included in a Police Report?
Police officers are trained to document accidents objectively. Their reports typically include:
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Exact location of the collision
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Date and time of the accident
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Damage to vehicles and property
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Reported injuries
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Driver statements
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Witness accounts and identifying information
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Road, weather, and environmental conditions
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Additional observations the officer finds relevant
Because this information comes from a neutral source, it carries significant weight with insurance adjusters and, when necessary, juries. Even if you believe you may be at fault, having a report protects you if the other driver exaggerates their injuries or attempts to file a fraudulent claim.
How to File a Police Report After a Crash
If you’re involved in a car accident, follow these steps to make sure the incident is properly documented:
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Call 911 immediately. Make this your first call, even for minor collisions.
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Speak with the responding officer. Provide honest, accurate information. The officer will interview you, the other driver, and any witnesses to determine what happened.
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Request a copy of the police report. Once the report is filed—usually within hours or by the next day—obtain a copy for your records and send one to your insurance company.
When to Call a Lawyer After an Auto Accident
If you’re injured because of another driver’s negligence, having an experienced attorney on your side is essential. Insurance companies may try to minimize your injury or deny your claim altogether. The sooner you speak with a lawyer, the better protected your rights will be.
At Applebaum Accident Group, we offer consultations to help accident victims understand their options. Because personal injury cases are subject to strict deadlines, it’s important to get started right away.
Schedule a consultation today.
📞 Call (855-Call-Paul)Applebaum Accident Group
📩 Or request your case review online anytime.
