Car accidents can be disorienting. When injuries do not appear severe, it may be tempting to skip calling the police. However, in almost all Louisiana motor vehicle accidents, you are required to report the accident.
Additionally, having a police report is vital to your ability to recover compensation for any damages. Police reports are official documents and unbiased reports of what happened in an accident.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, our car accident lawyers have a proven record of recovering maximum compensation for our clients. Our advice is to always file a police report after an accident.
If you have been injured in an accident, we want to help you recover the compensation you are owed. Call (225) 999-1111 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Why Having a Police Report of Your Accident is Important
In Louisiana, you are required by law to report almost all motor vehicle accidents. Failing to do so can result in penalties and fines Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:398 specifically states:
Ҥ398. Crash reports; when and to whom made; information aid; fees for copies; fees for crash photographs and videos
A. The driver of a vehicle involved in a crash resulting in injury to or death of any person or property damage in excess of five hundred dollars shall:
(1) Immediately give notice of the crash to the local police department if the crash occurs within an incorporated city or town or, if the crash occurs outside of an incorporated city or town, to the nearest sheriff’s office or state police station.
(2) Give his name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle he was driving and, upon request and if available, exhibit his license or permit to drive to any person injured in the crash or to the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle or other property damaged in the crash.
(3) Give such information and, upon request, exhibit such license or permit to any police officer at the scene of the crash or who is investigating the crash.
(4) If the crash occurs in a geographical area under order of evacuation by a competent authority or is under a declared state of emergency, the driver shall comply with the provisions of Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection within seventy-two hours after the occurrence of the crash.
There are several other important reasons why reporting your accident is critical to your case, including.
- A police report is an official record. It establishes an official record of your accident. Over time, memories fade, and evidence may become harder to access. A police report establishes facts regarding your accident, including its location, date, time, and parties involved.
- It can contain essential evidence. The police report may also include statements from the drivers involved and from any eyewitnesses. It may also include photographs of the accident scene, a description of the position of the involved vehicles, road conditions, and other relevant facts.
- A police report usually contains important contact information. This information is also usually included for the involved drivers and witnesses, which helps when serving a defendant or issuing a subpoena to a witness.
- It is an unbiased account of the facts related to your accident. Police officers responding to your accident provide an unbiased assessment of the incident, and courts often give more weight to a police officer’s testimony than some other witnesses who may be biased or unreliable.
- It helps with fault determination. The responding police officer usually decides which parties are at fault for the accident This is important for insurance claims and for legal proceedings.
How To File a Police Report After a Motor Vehicle Accident
You may follow these steps to file a police report after a Louisiana motor vehicle accident and to help protect your rights:
- Call the police to come to the scene of your accident. The responding officer will document the scene and take down important information. They usually give you a report number so you can access the report once it becomes available. If the police do not come to the scene of your accident, you should go to the police station or file an online report of your accident.
- Always give truthful and accurate information to the police. Do not admit fault or try to place blame on another party. Simply state the facts of your accident, including what led to the accident, where the accident occurred, what time it occurred, whether there were any injuries, and what damage was caused to your vehicle and personal property.
- Take photographs and video footage of the accident scene. Include views of the involved vehicles from a variety of angles. Also include any visible injuries, the road conditions, nearby traffic signs or signals, and anything else that seems relevant to your accident.
- Request a copy of the police report once it is filed.
How Do I Request a Copy of a Louisiana Motor Vehicle Accident Report?
All crash reports for Louisiana motor vehicle accidents can be obtained from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and State Police. The reports are available online or at the Louisiana State Police Troop for the location of your accident.
Louisiana State Police suggests waiting fifteen days after an accident to request the report. If a fatality occurred in your accident, you may need to wait up to sixty days to request a copy of the police report.
You may also obtain photographs of your accident scene from the Louisiana State Police Photo Lab by completing sections I and III of this form and submitting via email to LSP.TrafficRecords@la.gov, via facsimile number (225) 925-4922, or by mailing it to: Louisiana State Police, Traffic Records-Photo Lab, P.O. Box 66614 (Box A-27), Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70896.
How a Louisiana Car Accident Attorney Can Help You
If you are injured in a car accident, you need the help of an experienced car accident attorney to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
An experienced car accident injury attorney will investigate your accident to help determine its cause and liability for your damages. They will conduct discovery to identify and collect essential evidence to prove your claim.
Your attorney can help negotiate a fair settlement of your claim as quickly as possible. And when a fair settlement cannot be reached, they can represent you at trial and demand full payment for your damages.
Call Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Louisiana motor vehicle accident, we want to help you. Our attorneys have decades of experience recovering maximum compensation for car accident injury clients.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our car accident injury attorneys by calling (225) 999-1111 or by completing the brief form on our contact page.