The Accident Report Privilege in Tampa Bay, Florida Auto Accident Cases: What is it, and Why Should I Care?

If you were involved in a car accident in the Tampa, Florida area, you would likely call the police right away. As soon as police officers arrive at the accident scene, they will fulfill several different roles, such as getting medical help for injuries, directing traffic, and investigating the cause of the accident.

In the course of investigating your car accident, the police will ask you many questions about what happened. By law, you are required to answer all of these questions. Likewise, any other drivers involved in the accident are also required to answer police questions about the circumstances and cause of the accident.

Naturally, you may feel a little nervous about answering questions asked by the police, especially in the tense moments following a car accident. What if you say the wrong thing, you may wonder? What if you forget to mention important details? Will your words be held against you? Do you need to speak to a Tampa auto accident lawyer before you make statements to the police? To help you feel more at ease answering police questions, Florida law protects you with the Accident Report Privilege.

The Accident Report Privilege means that anything you tell the police during a Tampa Bay area accident investigation cannot be held against you in a criminal or civil trial. There are exceptions to this rule, however. If the police believe that a crime has been committed in the car accident—such as driving under the influence (DUI)—the accident investigation may turn into a crime scene investigation. If this is the case, the police officer will read the defendant his or her rights, and anything the defendant says can be used as evidence in court.

There are other possible exceptions to the Accident Report Privilege. If, during casual conversation, you make statements or admissions to the police or in the presence of the police, these statements may be admissible in court.

Therefore, while you are required to answer questions about the accident to the police and you have some protections under the Accident Report Privilege, it is important to remember that your words can be held against you under certain circumstances.

If you have been injured in a car accident in the greater Tampa Bay, Florida area and you have questions about the Accident Report Privilege or any other aspects of your accident, please contact Tampa auto accident lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. for a free initial consultation.