An accident report can be a vital document in a car accident. If you’ve ever been involved in a car accident, you should know how important it is that you call the police. One thing we always tell our clients is that there’s never a good enough reason to agree to not call the cops. Unfortunately, a lot of people figure they’re better off just exchanging insurance information with the driver. They assume that since nobody was seriously injured, there’s no need to make a big deal out of it. The problem is that your car accident attorney in Macon, Georgia can’t do their job without an accident report.
Too often, accident victims come to us without a copy of their police report. Sometimes, this is because they never called the cops. Other times it’s because they had no idea how to get a copy of their accident report. Knowing how critical this report is, we felt it was worth taking the time to explain how important it is. We’ll also describe the process by which you can request a copy of the police report in your case.
If you still have questions or concerns after reading this short article, give us a call. One of our injury attorneys in Macon, Georgia can sit down and explain the process to you one-on-one. All you have to do is call and schedule your free, initial consultation.
The First Thing You Should Do After Your Accident Is Call 911
We always tell our clients that there are 3 things they need to do following a car accident. It doesn’t matter how minor the crash is. If you want to protect your legal rights, you’ll follow these guidelines.
First, once you know everybody is okay, you need to call 911. They’ll send an officer out to do a thorough investigation of the accident scene. They’ll get statements from the people involved. They’ll also talk to eyewitnesses.
Once they’ve completed their investigation, they’ll fill out their report and file it with their office. Once they have a chance to process the report, you and the other driver have the opportunity to request a copy. However, if you don’t know how to request your copy, it can be a very frustrating process.
You Have to Be Persistent if You Want a Copy of the Police Report
One thing that frustrates many of our clients is the red tape they have to deal with when it comes to getting a copy of the police report. With everything being available online today, you wouldn’t think this would be the case. However, even for car accident attorneys in Macon, Georgia, it can be extremely frustrating.
In Georgia, there are two different ways you can request a copy of your police report. First, you can go to the police station and ask for a copy in-person. If you plan on doing this, make sure you have a valid form of identification with you. This could be your driver’s license or social security card.
You also want to make sure you go during certain hours. Typically, the police department’s “Central Records Unit” is open from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. You don’t want to go during lunch hours. Nor do you want to wait until the end of the day to go. If you do this, there’s a good chance you’ll be making a return trip the next day.
The second option is to order the report online. If you want to do this, go to www.buycrash.com. This site will let you purchase a copy of the report right online. Be prepared to pay for this report. You also want to wait at least five days for the report to become available.
If this is too overwhelming for you, we can always handle this for you. Just let us know prior to your initial consultation that you don’t have a copy. We’ll reach out to law enforcement and get a copy of the report for you. However, if there’s a cost for the report, we will not be able to procure it on your behalf. Our injury attorneys in Macon, Georgia aren’t allowed to spend any money on behalf of a client without a signed retainer agreement.
Why Is the Accident Report So Important to Your Car Accident Attorney in Macon, Georgia?
You may not realize it at the time of your accident, but the police report is very important to your case. It’s the best piece of unbiased evidence you can find. Without it, your car accident attorney in Macon, Georgia will have a very difficult time proving your case.
One of the great things about the police report is that it contains information that your attorney can’t get any other way. If you don’t call the police to the scene, there will be no way to track down witnesses. They can be a valuable source of information.
The other thing about the report is that it includes information about any tickets that were issued. For example, if the other driver was arrested for DUI at the accident scene, it would go a long way toward proving fault.
Without this report, your lawyer will be flying blind. The last thing you want is a “he said, she said” situation.
Contact One of Our Car Accident Attorneys in Macon, Georgia Today
If your minor fender-bender has turned into a major headache, don’t worry. Give our office a call and one of our friendly staff will help you schedule your free, initial consultation. Our team of injury attorneys in Macon, Georgia has decades of combined experience handling cases like yours.
If need be, we can order a copy of your accident report. Or, if you already have one, we can get started preparing your case right away. The defendant is going to have an attorney in their corner and so should you. Since the initial consultation is free, you have nothing to lose.
