Car crashes are not only scary and extremely dangerous, but they can also be a real legal nightmare to deal with. You might be dealing with insurance claims or lawsuits while also living with excruciating pain from your injuries. Although it might not seem like it initially, the police report from your accident may play a crucial role in your legal actions for damages after a crash or collision.
It can be easy to forget about the police report amidst all the chaos of an accident, but you should talk to your lawyer about how to get a copy. The report might be necessary for a lawsuit or an insurance claim, especially if the police conducted a very thorough investigation. We can help you get a copy of the report online, although it might also be available through the mail or in person, depending on which police department has the report. These reports might take some time before they are complete, and your lawyer can prepare your case in the meantime.
Call (312) 578-8502 and ask our Peoria car accident lawyers at the Rhatigan Law Offices for a confidential case evaluation at no cost to you.
Why You Should Copies of the Police Report After a Car Accident in Peoria
The police report for a vehicle accident is more than just legal paperwork. The report might contain details about the accident we were unaware of until the police conducted a thorough investigation. As such, the report might be very useful, if not necessary, in certain situations. Our Chicago car accident lawyers know how to obtain copies of the police report and can help you get your report as soon as possible.
When filing insurance claims or lawsuits, people often need a police report. Many insurance companies not only prefer to see the report, but they might make it mandatory. The report lets insurance companies know that the accident is real and not a fraudulent claim. In a lawsuit, the report might be used as a guide to find useful evidence. This might be more important in cases where the police conduct a lengthy and thorough investigation and turn up evidence we previously did not know about. Remember, the report itself is usually inadmissible in court as evidence, but we can use it to find evidence that is admissible.
You should also have the police report just in case the other driver tries to take legal action against you. If the other driver tries to claim that you caused the accident or that things happened one way when they actually happened an entirely different way, the police report might shed light on the truth.
How to Get Copies of a Police Report for a Car Accident in Peoria
How we can obtain copies of the police report depends on which police department has jurisdiction over your accident case. You might already know the police in charge of your case, especially if you spoke to them at the accident scene. However, not all accident victims talk to law enforcement. Some are taken directly to the hospital and are so badly injured they cannot possibly give a statement to the police.
A good way to determine which police department has your report is by using the location of the crash. Accidents within the limits of Peoria likely fall under the authority of the Peoria Police Department. To get a report from them, we need to contact the Records Section. We can download a records request form and submit it to the police department by mail, email, or in person.
If your accident happened on a state highway or other major road, your case might be in the hands of the Illinois State Police. Reports from the state police can be obtained online or by mail. We must send a request, either by email or regular mail, including a crash report number, the date and location of the accident, and the names of the drivers involved. Reports are available from the state police for a fee of $5. The report may be sent back to you by mail or email.
What Do I Do if My Police Report for a Car Accident in Peoria is Not Ready?
One problem that many drivers encounter is that they are trying to initiate legal action for a car accident, but the police report is not yet ready. First, call a lawyer if you have not done so already. Your attorney can help you prepare your case while waiting for the report. Building a strong case without the report might be possible, although we should still get a copy just to be sure.
Your attorney can also contact the police and get an estimate on when it will be ready. If your accident was severe or the police suspect it is related to unlawful activity or behavior, the report will likely take much longer to complete.
If you need the report for an insurance claim, we might be able to start the claim without it and submit it later when it is available. When we get started, we must inform the insurance company about the situation so they know not to process the claim without the report. In many cases, insurance companies demand to see the report so they have proof that the claim is not a fraud.
Do the Police Write Reports for Every Car Accident in Peoria?
As important as accident reports are, the police might not write them for every crash or collision. This is because not all accidents need to be brought to the attention of law enforcement. Under 625 I.L.C.S.§ 5/11-407(a), drivers are required to call the police about accidents involving death, injuries, or significant damage. Generally, drivers do not have to alert the police to a minor accident like a fender-bender.
While you might not be legally required to call the police after a minor accident, you can still do so, and they might still write a report. This might seem like overkill, but you never know what might happen in the future. It is not unheard of for other drivers with minimal damages to suddenly claim they have severe injuries and try to sue you. The police report might indicate that the accident was minor and that damages and injuries were minimal.
Speak to Our Peoria Car Accident Attorneys About Your Case Now
Call (312) 578-8502 and ask our Peoria personal injury lawyers at the Rhatigan Law Offices for a confidential case evaluation at no cost to you.
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