Car accidents can be chaotic and disorienting, leaving victims with a whirlwind of emotions and uncertainties. While it’s not mandatory to file a personal injury police report for every accident in Florida, understanding the importance of having one can significantly impact the outcome of a case. Likewise, car accident victims can significantly improve their chances of being awarded just compensation for their injuries if they retain an experienced attorney early in the process. The combination of ensuring police involvement at the scene of the accident and the early hiring of a competent personal injury attorney play a key role in securing just compensation.

Calling 911 at the Scene

While not required for all accidents, victims involved in accidents with injuries, fatalities, intoxicated drivers or other suspected illegal activity such as a hit and run should immediately call 911 from a safe location at the scene. Importantly, accident victims in shock may not have the capacity to judge the severity of the situation and may conclude that police or emergency first responder involvement is unnecessary. However, prompt police involvement in these cases ensures a thorough assessment of the situation by a neutral party and can provide crucial evidence that helps a victim’s case for compensation.

The Importance of Police Reports

Police reports provide a neutral and official account of the accident scene. They include crucial details that can support a victim’s case, such as witness statements, weather conditions, road markings and the conditions and circumstances of the drivers and their vehicles. Personal injury attorneys, courts and insurance companies often rely on police reports and official police investigations to form their cases in court.

Obtaining Police Reports in Florida

Previously written law enforcement reports can be obtained from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) or the relevant law enforcement agency. Reports can be requested in person at the office of the agency that handled the accident, including local police departments, county sheriff’s offices, or Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) stations. Law enforcement agencies typically charge a small document retrieval fee. Requestors may need to provide the incident or report number, their name, and sometimes the names of the other parties involved in the accident.

If not incapacitated, victims can ask the responding police officer for the report number at the accident scene. This number can be essential for later retrieving the detailed police report.

Those involved with an accident should always be truthful when speaking to law enforcement. However, best practice is to call a personal injury attorney immediately after calling 911 so that the attorney can advise the victim of the best course of action when interacting with others involved with the incident as well as law enforcement.

“… best practice is to call a personal injury attorney immediately after calling 911 …”

The Importance of an Attorney

Personal injury victims may be eligible for substantial compensation covering medical expenses, loss of work, and pain and suffering. Attempting to navigate this process alone can be challenging; partnering with an experienced personal injury attorney substantially increases the chances of securing just compensation. Compensation can result from a settlement or court decision in favor of the victim. Insurance companies are notorious for making initial settlement offers that are far below the levels of just compensation possible if the case were to go to court.

Due to financial hardship, many accident victims accept low ball initial offers made by insurance companies, corporations or wealthy individuals. An experienced personal injury attorney can objectively advise on the suitability of such offers and whether it makes strategic sense to take a case to court rather than accept the offer.

South Florida Law

For those facing the aftermath of a car accident, partnering early with an experienced personal injury attorney is a wise decision. The attorneys at South Florida Law can manage the complexities of the legal system for you, fighting for you to receive just compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial hardships. If you are worried about the cost of an attorney, you will be pleased to hear that we will not charge you for our services unless we win your case.