Florida has plenty of traffic – and all the car accidents that go right along with it. If you’ve been injured in a car crash that was caused by someone else’s negligence, there are certain first steps that you should take to help secure your car accident claim, and obtaining an accident report is one of them. If a negligent motorist leaves you injured, discuss your claim with an experienced Tampa car crash attorney today.
Accident Reports
In Florida, motorists are required by law to report car accidents whenever someone is injured (or worse) or if there appears to be at least $500 worth of property damage in total. Because even the slightest tap can cause far more than $500 in property damage, virtually every car crash must be reported to the authorities.
And this doesn’t mean sending a letter or email when you get around to it – it means immediately and by the most efficient means possible, which amounts to picking up your phone and making the call. In other words, if you have a car accident claim, an accident report should have been generated.
The Accident Report
After a car crash that leaves you seriously injured, you’ll need to begin negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurance company for compensation that covers your full array of damages, and an accident report can prove very valuable. Consider the following:
- The accident report will include the basic facts of the accident – in black and white. While the officer’s opinion on what he or she thinks may have happened might not be useful, the report solidifies the date, time, and location of the accident and will likely provide additional factual information that is useful to pin down.
- If there are extenuating circumstances involved with your claim – such as if the officer suspected the other motorist of being impaired – it can strengthen your claim further.
- Overall, the accident report can help streamline the insurance claim process because the insurance company may not be inclined to call the officer’s reporting into doubt.
Finally, if you don’t obtain a copy of the accident claim, you can count on the insurance company having one – and having less information than the insurance company is not a good position to be in.
Don’t Delay Consulting with an Experienced Tampa Car Accident Attorney
If another driver’s negligence leaves you seriously injured in a car accident, the journey toward recovery involves obtaining compensation that covers your complete range of physical, financial, and emotional damages, and a big part of this task is compiling all relevant evidence, including the accident report.
The well-respected car accident attorneys at Tragos, Sartes&Tragos in Tampa dedicate their practice to guiding claims like yours toward their optimal outcomes, and we’re right here for you, too. For more information about what we can do to help you, please do not wait to contact us online or call us at 813-223-6405 today.
