One of the most traumatic experiences for anyone would be getting into a motor vehicle accident. There is the factor of shock and recovery and the added pressure of talking to the insurance company. In the latter case, the first thing that the company will demand is a police report regarding the accident. For those who’ve never been in a motor accident before, it can be difficult to find information about how to obtain a car accident police report.
Well, in case a situation like that ever arises, this article will help you out. What you might not realize is that the police report will have the proper information that you might need to properly receive fair compensation for the injuries. Also, it will help answer the most important questions such as what exactly happened and who was at fault.
What Exactly is a Police Report?
The police report can be created by the officer who is investigating the accident scene. It can contain all the important information mentioned below:
- The time and date of the accident that has occurred
- The exact location where the accident happened including the country and the town
- Contact information as well as the details about every single one of the drivers that was involved in the accident
- The road conditions as well as the weather at the time of the crash
- Any information regarding the vehicles’ passengers
- Essential details about the accident along with the vehicles including diagrams of the vehicles’ placement during the accident
- A summary of the accident is taken from the statements given by the occupants of the vehicles as well as other witnesses.
- The police report also contains information about the injured people in the accident and whether anyone received a citation or not.
How to Get a Police Report in Chicago
If your crash happened within Chicago city limits, Chicago Police Department reports are available online through the CPD crash report portal at crash.chicagopolice.org. You’ll need the report (RD) number, the crash date, and a driver’s name to request it. The fee is $6.00 online ($5 report fee plus $1 convenience fee) or $5.00 if requested in person or by mail. Reports typically cover crashes from 2016 to the present.
If your crash was investigated by the Illinois State Police or a suburban police department instead, the request process and fee differ by agency. In case you have problems obtaining the report, an attorney can request it on your behalf.
Why Police Reports Matter, and an Important Legal Nuance
The accident report from the police contains crucial information about the case. The police take some time to properly investigate the accident, talk to witnesses, inspect the vehicle, and take several photographs during the process. The report will also contain the opinions given by police inspectors about the cause and the faulty person for the crash.
Here’s the nuance most guides skip: under the Illinois Rules of Evidence, a police accident report is generally not admissible in an Illinois civil trial as direct, substantive proof of fault, it’s typically treated as hearsay. What the report is useful for is impeaching a witness or officer whose trial testimony contradicts what they said right after the crash, refreshing recollection, and as the basis for calling the responding officer to testify directly about what they personally observed. In practice, this means the report is a critical investigative tool and a strong piece of leverage during settlement negotiations, even though it isn’t simply handed to a jury as proof of who caused the crash.
The document is also used by insurance companies to get a proper understanding of the case and analyze the damage that was done to the vehicles. Using that information, the company estimates fault and a potential compensation amount. That’s why it’s important to obtain the report as soon as you can, and to make sure the facts in it are accurate, if there are errors, you can reach out to the investigating officer to correct them. Our guide on evidence you need after a car crash covers how the police report fits alongside everything else you should be collecting.
Is It Important to Obtain a Police Report Even If No One is Injured?
What happens when there is an accident, but no one is injured? Do you still need to get a police report in situations like that? Well, the answer to that is a Yes. You will have the police report as proof of the accident. It contains important information that will act as support for your claim. Say the insurance company is fighting the claim and considers your fault in the accident. Well, in that case, the report from the police will be a useful piece of evidence for your cause, subject to the admissibility limits described above.
Hire Record-Setting Car Accident Lawyers Illinois for Your Cause
Without an actual report, you might have some trouble proving your claim. The days following any car accident can be traumatizing. With a car accident police report, you will be one step ahead of the process. Hiring an experienced car accident attorney can help you navigate through the whole procedure and get things done easily. Contact Phillips Law Offices to have a team of car accident lawyers who helps with your claim to the car accident insurance company.
The team will help you in getting the car accident police report, and in getting further assistance. Call now for a free consultation.
Also Read:
How to Win Left Turn Accident?
Insurance Company Denied Your Claim?
Evidence You Need After a Car Crash in Chicago
Drunk Driving: Who Suffers The Most?
For a broader overview, you can also review our Illinois car accident injury attorneys page.
