One of the first things your Springdale car accident lawyer will tell you is to call the police immediately after your car crash. This is the only way you can ensure that your accident will be investigated properly. It’s also the only way you can get a police report.
As important as these things are, you’d be surprised how many people agree to not call the cops after their car accident. This could be the biggest mistake you make. If the other driver asks you to not call the police, there’s a good reason.
Your Springdale car accident lawyer is going to need the police report to prove your case. While they can try to get the information another way, it will be expensive and time consuming. And, they may not be able to get the information at all.
The best way to preserve your claim for damages is by calling the police after your crash. You also don’t want to make your lawyer’s job any harder than it has to be. If you have questions about what to do at the scene, call and speak to your Springdale car accident lawyer immediately.
What Information is in the Police Report?
As mentioned above, the police report contains some very valuable information. This is what your Springdale accident lawyer will use to gather evidence. It gives them a great starting point to preparing your case.
Some of the information contained in the police report includes:
- Description of the accident scene and road conditions
- Names and contact information for any witnesses
- Pictures of the victims, the cars and the scene
- Statements made by the drivers involved
- License and insurance information for all parties involved
- Notes about any tickets or citations issues
Some of these things won’t be available to your attorney. For example, there’s no way for them to get contact information for the witnesses after the fact. They won’t even know if there were any witnesses.
Even if they do manage to track the witnesses down, they may not be willing to talk to your lawyer. Most people don’t want to get involved in other people’s legal problems. That’s why you’re better off letting the police gather this information for you.
Why Would the Other Driver Not Want You to Call the Police?
There are all sorts of reasons why the other driver wouldn’t want you to call the cops. None of them are good. Usually, they want to hide or conceal something. No reason is good enough for you to agree to it.
Some of the reasons a driver would want to avoid calling the police includes the following:
- They could be drunk or under the influence of drugs
- They don’t have a valid driver’s license
- They have no insurance
- They have active warrants
- They were breaking the law at the time of the accident
- They’re driving a stolen car
Of course, they’re not going to tell you this is why they don’t want to call the police. They’ll tell you that it’s just more convenient for both of you. And it could be tempting. Who wants to spend the day dealing with the cops? And then following up to get a police report?
No matter how tempted you are to agree to this, don’t do it. This will make things very difficult for you later on.
What if You’re Afraid of Getting a Ticket?
Even if you think you may get a ticket, you still need to stick around and wait for the police. If you don’t, you could even get in trouble for leaving the scene of an accident. In Arkansas, you’re required to report a car accident. If you don’t, you can be charged with a crime.
Arkansas has some pretty specific rules when it comes to reporting a car accident. You must report any accident that involves injury, death or property damage over $1,000. You also have to report any car accident to Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. You have thirty (30) days to do this.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Springdale, Arkansas
If you get hurt in a car accident, you need to call an accident lawyer in Springdale right away. They can review your case and let you know how strong it is. They can also answer any questions you may have.
Call Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.