Why is it Important to get an Accident Report?

If you’ve been involved in a recent accident in Orlando, the accident report can be your number one ally. Not only will your insurance company use the accident report to determine who was at fault in that Orlando, FL accident, but the Orlando Police Department will also use the accident report to determine whether any crimes occurred and who was the offending party. If you can get your hands on that accident report or put it in the hands of your lawyer, it may even help protect your rights.

But the last thing on most people’s minds after a recent accident is the paperwork associated with the accident. After all, you may be dealing with injuries and a trip to the emergency room, as well as an eventual trip to the mechanic for car repairs. The good news is that most accident reports in Orlando and across the state of Florida are completed by the investigating officer at the scene of the accident. Furthermore, the state mandates that accident reports are required for any accident that resulted in death or injury, if a party to the accident left the scene, if a vehicle involved was rendered inoperable, or if a commercial vehicle was involved.

What Information Can You Find In An Orlando Accident Report?

In a typical Orlando accident report, details about the accident will be documented, such as where and when the accident occurred, descriptions of vehicles involved, names and contact information for each driver and passenger, as well as witnesses, if any, and the name and badge number of the officer that filled out the report. When an accident has occurred and a report has been generated, anyone involved in the accident can request a copy of the report, including insurance companies law enforcement agencies, victim services programs and the media.

Here’s what you’ll find in your Orlando accident report:

• Date, time, and location of the accident
• Description of vehicles involved in the accident
• Identifying information for parties involved in the accident, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information
• Identifying information for witnesses
• Name and badge number of the officer who filed the Orlando accident report.

What To Do After an Accident

If you’ve been in a recent accident, it’s important to obtain an Orlando accident report and meet with a lawyer to protect your legal rights. Insurance companies and other actors will likely try and get you to settle quickly, hoping that a quick cash award is enough to do the trick. But you could be leaving significant sums on the table, as well as potentially opening you up to legal liability.

For these reasons and more, retaining a lawyer is one of the first steps after obtaining an Orlando accident report.

Why Is It Important To Hire Legal Help After An Accident?

After an accident, many people choose to settle with the insurance company out of court. And while this may be a viable option in some cases, accident victims should understand that they do have other legal options.

For instance, accident victims could take their case to trial. This would give them the opportunity to present evidence and testimony to a judge or jury and potentially recover more compensation than they would through an insurance settlement.

Your Orlando accident report will play an important role in pursuing a personal injury claim, whether you choose to settle out of court or take your case to trial. If you don’t have your Orlando accident report, you may still be able to obtain one by contacting the local police department or the Florida Highway Patrol.

Here at Auto Accident Report, we’ll help you obtain your accident report and help protect your legal rights at each step of the way. Order your Orlando accident report or contact us today to get started.