If you were in a car accident recently, and you’re considering talking with a Houston auto accident law firm, you might want to request a copy of your auto accident report ahead of time. Many law firms can do this for you, but having a copy ahead of time is smart.
Naturally, our bodies and minds weren’t built for having to deal with an auto accident, so our bodies often go into a state of shock, as we deal with such a confusing situation. We don’t know what to do first, what to do next, and how to care for ourselves after we get into a wreck, whether it’s our fault or someone else’s.
Eventually, we’re advised to do things like call the police, call a lawyer and seek medical treatment. Calling the police is probably the first thing done because someone might be at fault, and insurance companies are going to get involved. Seeking medical attention should be your next step. Calling a Houston auto accident law firm is integral, as well. They’ll help put all the pieces together as you begin to file an insurance claim, and that means using a copy of your auto accident report.
The police report will show things like the date, time and location of the accident, along with the officer’s description of the details and likely causes of the accident, including the road and weather conditions.
Options For Requesting a Copy of Your Auto Accident Report
It’s important to get a copy of the police accident report, since an insurance claims adjuster will be reviewing it, too. You want your lawyers to have the best chances while representing you. An insurance claim without a police report is incomplete, and will likely cause the claim to be denied.
- Call the Officer That Responded to the Accident
You likely received a business card from the officer, but if you didn’t, you can call the police station and ask for the officer that handled your car accident scene.
- Visit the Police Station, Courthouse or DMV
You might have to go down to the police station and talk to the reception clerk to get a copy of the report. It’s also quite possible you’ll have to pay a small fee to get your copy. The police station should tell you where to go (either the courthouse or your local DMV office) if they can’t give you a copy.
- Creating Your Own Auto Accident Report
You should consider making your own unofficial accident report as quickly as possible, getting evidence immediately after the scene of the accident. This means taking pictures of the vehicles, the roads and any injuries you suffered, as well as documenting where the accident took place, the current weather conditions and the amount of traffic surrounding the scene.
Also, get names and phone numbers of the witnesses nearby, so that your lawyer might be able to contact them in the future.
All of this work could be overkill, but it could also help your Houston auto accident law firm in many ways. The judge or jury overseeing any trial or settlement issue will see how diligent you were in gathering facts, in order to help them come to an understanding with their judgment.
Fears Nachawati is a Houston auto accident law firm that has a lot of experience in these types of cases. They will help you understand what your rights are, as well as what kind of compensation you should seek. Give them a call at (713) 589-6958, or come talk to them at their downtown Houston offices at 3730 Kirby Drive. You can also visit their offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio, as well as in Denver and Tampa.