Police Reports, Auto Accident Injury Claims & Your Tampa Auto Accidents Lawyer

At the scene of an auto accident in the Tampa Bay area, one of the most important actions you can take is to call the police. Not only are the police able to summon ambulances and fire trucks as needed, but the police also serve as a neutral, third party bystander as to what caused the accident, what damage was done, and what injuries were possibly sustained. Without police assistance, you may have to rely on the testimony of the other drivers and car occupants involved in the accident. All too often, the other parties involved may change their story after leaving the scene of the accident, or they may conveniently forget important facts about the accident. Therefore, give yourself and your Tampa auto accidents lawyer a better chance at achieving justice; call the police immediately after every car accident.

While a police report is not necessarily infallible, it does offer an objective opinion which may be helpful in your personal injury claim. For example, a police report will typically estimate the amount of the property damage caused by the accident, and it also will try to establish fault in the accident. This can be useful if the person at fault in the accident tries to deny culpability.

Whether it is written by the Tampa police, Clearwater police, or Hillsborough County Sheriff, a police report also contains some excellent information in one concise document. For instance, every police report should identify drivers, passengers, and witnesses. It will also have the date, time, and location as well as diagrams, drivers license numbers, addresses, phone numbers, license plate numbers, vehicle descriptions, weather, and insurance information. This being said, you should also try to document as much information as you can on your own personal accident report, as well as get the names and badge numbers of police officers who responded to the auto accident scene, just in case.

Tampa auto accidents lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. can sometimes use a police report as a starting point in his investigation of your injury claim. The police report may fill in important details that are easy to overlook if you are injured, such as your condition after the accident, which ambulance you rode in and what hospital you were taken to. The report will also provide evidence of criminal and negligent behavior in the accident, including whether alcohol or other intoxicating substances were used by the driver at fault. If there is incorrect information in the police report, Dale Appell will be prepared to challenge this information in court.

Anyone who has been seriously injured in a Tampa Bay area automobile accident should contact the police immediately, and then a lawyer as soon as possible afterward. No matter where you are in west central Florida and beyond, Tampa auto accidents lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. offers a free consultation to those who need an experienced, reliable assessment of their case. Please call or e-mail us, or fill out the form on our “Do I have a case” page, and our firm will provide you with fast, clear answers. We would like to hear from you if you are here in Tampa or in surrounding areas such as Lutz, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, New Port Richey, Thonotosassa, St Petersburg, Oldsmar, Apollo Beach, Temple Terrace, and beyond.