Even if you suspect that the injuries and damages associated with the accident are minor, there are multiple reasons why you should consider filing a police report after the accident. Details will still be fresh in your mind during this time and it is important that you have a police report if you intend to move forward with an insurance claim or with a personal injury claim.

A police report can help facilitate the claims process with your car insurance company much more quickly so that your payout is received quickly. In the event that you ultimately decide to file a personal injury case, your police report could be an important piece of evidence. Details that need to be included in a police report include:

  • Details of what happened
  • Any injuries you or passengers sustained
  • The number of individuals in the other driver’s vehicle
  • Names and contact information for any witnesses
  • The drivers’ names and insurance details

Taking photos of your vehicle, your injuries, and the scene can also be important. Once a law enforcement officer collects the details in your police report, he or she will then submit it to their department. A traffic ticket may be issued to one or both drivers at the scene depending on the police officer’s discretion. Filing a police report is a great way to record the details of what happened in the accident immediately so that you can refer back to it later on.

Once the police report has been submitted, make sure to get a copy of it as soon as possible. You might need this for your insurance company but also for an attorney if you decided to move forward with a car accident claim. Along with the other evidence you have from the scene of the accident, a police report is an important component of what you and the officer saw at the actual accident.