Why You Need A Police Report To Help Substantiate Your Personal Injury Claim

The Importance Of Filing A Police Report To Substantiate A Personal Injury Claim

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (March 17, 2023) – It is important to get a police report filed after an accident in order to substantiate any potential personal injury claim that you pursue.

For starters, New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 605 requires any person involved in an accident to submit an accident report when the collision causes bodily injury or $1,000 worth of property damage.

A police report is an essential piece of evidence that can be used to pursue a civil claim if you are injured. For example, your accident report will typically contain information about:

• The time and date of the collision
• The location of the collision
• The name of all drivers involved in the crash
• The names of eye witnesses
• The road and weather conditions at the time of the crash
• The description of what happen
• Vehicle details including license plate and VIN numbers
• Information about any traffic citations issued
• The extent of any person’s injuries and whether they were taken to the hospital

Insurance companies will always look at the accident report after a claim has been filed. Police reports usually are not admissible in court and typically considered “hearsay”.

However, they can play a large role in any out-of-court settlement negotiations. These reports contain essential facts that will make it much easier to get in contact with eye witnesses.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, it is always wise to try to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. They can request a copy of your police report and let you know if you have a valid claim that can be pursued.

You can reach out to our attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. anytime if you need help. We are always available at (516) 908-9792.