Getting into a car accident in Seattle, Washington, can have a devastating effect on your life, especially if you have been seriously injured. No matter the ramifications of the accident, filing a claim is often a crucial step Seattle residents need to take. Before you do this, however, you need to understand how Seattle police reports impact car accident claims and your right to receive compensation.
At NBF Accident Law, our auto accident attorneys in Seattle, Washington, are here to assist our clients in every aspect of their car accident cases. Our attorneys will work tirelessly on your behalf to protect your rights, ensure you are treated fairly, and have access to the evidence you need.
Police Reports For Car Accident Claims: Why They Are Important
Seattle police reports for car accidents are essential for car accident claims because they provide two specific types of information. This report will provide technical information regarding the accident and the vehicles involved, as well as the police officer’s opinion.
Depending on the nature of the accident and your damages, it can be challenging to get the compensation you need to make a full recovery. That is why it is necessary to gather as much evidence as possible to support your claim. Here are some of the details every police report should contain:
- Date, time, and location of the accident
- The extent of the property damage
- Vehicle information
- Any citations that were issued
- Witness statements and contact information
- Personal information from each driver
- Insurance information
- Personal accounts of the accident from each driver
- Factors that contributed to the accident
- Details regarding any injuries
The police officer responsible for creating the report will also include their expert opinion. This can be helpful in some instances, especially if the officer is confident enough to make an initial determination of fault. For example, the officer may have initially determined that it was the fault of the other driver if they ran a red light or failed to stop at a stop sign.
How to Obtain a Police Report in Seattle
After getting into a car accident, you will not automatically receive the police report, so you will need to seek this out yourself. You can usually obtain the police report by visiting your local police department and submitting a report request in person to the records department or the crash reports unit. Depending on your police department, you may also have the option of submitting a report request online or over the phone.
To simplify this process and get your police report faster, it can be beneficial to hire a car accident attorney. They can track down crucial pieces of evidence for you so that you can focus on other aspects of recovering after a car accident.
Using a Police Report in Your Claim
For a Seattle, Washington, car accident that is not your fault, having a police report is a very valuable piece of evidence. Especially if you were injured and unable to document evidence yourself, the police report will contain details necessary for proving who was at fault.
Insurance companies will also pay more attention to police reports as they are coming from professionals. The police report may provide information regarding factors that contributed to the accident as well as an initial determination of fault from the responding officer.
Can a Police Report Hurt Your Car Accident Claim?
Although useful, it is important to keep in mind that a police report is not a foolproof way of getting compensation. Police report errors can negatively impact auto claims in a variety of ways. Although it is possible to correct a police report in Washington, the police department or officer may not agree, depending on the errors you want to be corrected.
For example, the police officer may have made a mistake and determined that you were ultimately the one at fault. They may have misread the evidence at the collision site or received inconsistent witness statements. You have the option of disputing errors in the police report, but this may not always result in the errors being fixed.
So, if it turns out that the police report is not helpful for your claim, you will need to rely more heavily on other types of evidence. One way you can try to recover from this is to hire a reconstruction expert who can reconstruct how the accident occurred to showcase who was truly at fault.
FAQ Section
Can you file a claim without a police report in Seattle?
According to Washington law, any collision that results in bodily or property damage of $1000 or more has to be reported to Washington State Patrol. Because of this, not having a police report can create some significant challenges for a claim if the damages are valued over $1000.
What if the police report contains errors?
If the police report regarding the accident contains factual errors, it is possible to have these corrected by following the right steps. These steps may look different depending on your local police department, so you may need to speak with someone directly.
How do I correct a police report after it’s filed?
If you notice factual errors in the police report, you can call the law enforcement department responsible for filing the report to request that it be corrected. In some cases, you may even be able to speak with the responding officer, who can correct or replace the report themselves.
Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer at NBF Accident Law
After getting into a car accident, there are several steps you need to take as you are preparing to file your claim. Obtaining a police report is one of those steps, as police reports for car accident claims are essential when it comes to handling insurance companies.
At NBF Accident Law, our auto accident lawyers will fight purposefully on behalf of car accident victims in Seattle, ensuring they get the compensation they deserve. We will help you every step of the way, whether you are collecting evidence, filing a claim, or negotiating with insurance companies.
Contact us today at 206-923-8888 to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.
