Police Report and Its Importance in a Car Accident Claim
At The Weinstein Firm, we are dedicated to protecting car accident victims across Atlanta and throughout Georgia. Our attorneys bring decades of combined experience and a proven record of success, including millions recovered for injured clients. We focus on delivering personal attention, aggressive representation, and results that matter. When you work with us, you get a team that treats your case like our own and fights for the maximum compensation you deserve.
A police report is often the most critical document after a car crash in Atlanta, GA. It records the facts, identifies the vehicles involved, and provides an official account from law enforcement. For a car accident victim, this report can shape the outcome of an insurance claim and later serve as key evidence in court.
Insurance companies rely on it to decide fault, and an Atlanta car accident lawyer uses it to protect your rights and pursue full compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
What Is a Police Report in Georgia?
A police report is the foundation of a car accident claim. It is the first record of what happened and often shapes how insurance companies and courts view the case.
Definition of a Police Report
A police report is an official document created by law enforcement after responding to a collision. In Georgia, it details the incident, the people involved, and the conditions of the roadway. The Atlanta Police Department or the Georgia Department of Public Safety prepares this record.
Information Included in a Police Report
The report captures key facts about the accident. It lists the date, time, and location of the crash. It identifies the vehicles involved and the drivers, including their contact information. Officers record statements from witnesses, injured persons, and the other driver. They also note roadway conditions, traffic signals, hazard lights, and any visible property damage.
Importance of the Police Report for a Car Accident Case
This record matters because it provides an objective account from law enforcement. It creates a timeline and establishes what happened at the scene. Insurance companies, attorneys, and courts rely on the report to evaluate fault and compensation. For a car accident victim, this document is often the strongest piece of evidence when pursuing medical expenses, lost wages, and fair settlement.
Why the Police Report Is Crucial in a Car Accident Case
The police report often determines how a car accident claim develops and how compensation is decided.
Establishing Fault
A police report helps identify who caused the crash. Officers note traffic violations, roadway conditions, and driver actions. These details matter when proving negligence. In Georgia, O.C.G.A. § 40-6-273 requires drivers to report accidents involving injury, death, or property damage over $500. This statute ensures law enforcement documents the event and preserves evidence.
Creating a Neutral Record
The report is viewed as an impartial record from law enforcement. It provides facts instead of opinions. This helps reduce disputes between drivers. For a car accident victim, it offers protection if the other driver denies responsibility.
Supporting a Car Accident Claim
The police report connects directly to the claim process. It shows the full extent of the accident by documenting vehicles involved, injuries, and property damage. Insurance companies use this record when deciding whether to pay medical expenses, lost wages, and property repairs. Without a report, it is harder for an Atlanta car accident lawyer to build a strong case or secure fair settlement.
How Insurance Companies Use the Police Report
Insurance companies depend on the police report to guide their decisions about liability and compensation in a car accident claim.
Reviewing Fault and Liability
Adjusters use the report to see who caused the collision. They review traffic violations, witness statements, and the officer’s observations. If the report points to one driver, the insurance company often treats that driver as at fault. This can decide whether a car accident victim gets compensation for injuries and property damage.
Calculating Settlement Offers
The police report influences the amount an insurance company offers. Details about serious injuries, soft tissue injuries, and property damage affect how much the insurer is willing to pay. Without a clear report, the company may argue against paying the full extent of medical expenses or lost wages.
Limiting Disputes with the Other Driver
A neutral police report helps prevent arguments between drivers. If the other driver denies fault, the insurance company still relies on law enforcement records. This reduces delays and strengthens the legal process for an Atlanta car accident attorney working to secure fair settlement and full compensation.
How to Obtain Your Police Report in Atlanta, GA
Getting a copy of the police report is an important step in building a car accident claim.
Where to Request a Police Report
Car accident victims can request their report from the Atlanta Police Department Records Office. Reports are also available through the Georgia Department of Transportation crash portal. Both options give access to the official record prepared by law enforcement.
Methods of Requesting a Police Report
Reports can be requested in several ways. A person can visit the records office in person, submit a request online, or call the office by phone. Some requests can also be sent by mail. Each method requires basic information about the accident such as the date, location, and names of the drivers involved.
Why Legal Review Is Important
Even when the report is obtained, errors can appear in the document. An Atlanta car accident lawyer can review the report for accuracy and use it as evidence when dealing with the insurance company. Having an attorney examine the report helps protect the car accident victim’s right to maximum compensation.
Common Errors in Police Reports and How to Address Them
Mistakes in a police report can weaken a car accident claim if they are not corrected quickly.
Types of Errors in Police Reports
Errors often involve basic details such as the description of vehicles, contact information for drivers, or the date of the incident. Other mistakes may appear in the officer’s narrative, including how the collision happened or what witnesses reported. Even small errors can affect how the insurance company views fault and damages.
How to Correct Errors
If an error is found, the person involved can contact the Atlanta Police Department or the Georgia Department of Public Safety to request a correction. In many situations, this involves filing a supplemental statement. This addition does not erase the original report but provides clarification.
Role of an Attorney in Correcting Reports
An Atlanta car accident attorney can assist in reviewing the report and identifying problems. Attorneys know how to submit corrections and make sure the record reflects the full extent of the accident. This support protects the car accident victim and helps secure fair settlement for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
How a Police Report Affects the Legal Process in Georgia
A police report plays a direct role in how a car accident case moves through the Georgia legal system.
Evidence in Settlement Negotiations
Insurance companies rely heavily on the police report during negotiations. The details about the vehicles involved, witness statements, and roadway conditions shape whether the insurer offers a fair settlement. Without the report, the insurance company may argue against paying the full extent of medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
Use in Court Proceedings
If a car accident claim goes to court, the police report becomes part of the evidence. Judges and juries often view the record as an unbiased account from law enforcement. This makes it a key tool for an Atlanta car accident attorney when proving fault and securing maximum compensation for the injured person.
Legal Deadlines in Georgia
Georgia law gives car accident victims two years to file a lawsuit for personal injuries under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. The police report helps preserve facts during this time. Without it, proving what happened at the scene becomes more difficult and may reduce the chances of full compensation.
Why You Need an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
You need a strong advocate after a car crash to protect your rights and guide your recovery with clarity and purpose.
Free Case Evaluation and No Upfront Costs
At The Weinstein Firm we begin with a free case review. You owe nothing unless we win. You face no surprise fees. This lets a car accident victim focus on healing, not on legal bills.
Personal Attention from Experienced Attorneys
Your case is handled by Michael or Harris Weinstein, not a junior associate. Each client works directly with proven Atlanta car accident attorneys. They bring over 20 years of combined experience and results that include a $4.5 million car accident settlement and over $30 million recovered.
Medical Care with No Upfront Payment
We connect you with trusted doctors who treat accident victims on a lien basis. You receive care now and pay later. This ensures timely treatment for soft tissue injuries, serious injuries, or other medical needs.
Deep Knowledge of Georgia Law and Local Insurers
Our team knows Georgia’s fault system, comparative negligence rules, and local court procedures. We use that knowledge to protect compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and full range of injury effects.
Aggressive Settlement Negotiation and Trial Readiness
We negotiate with strength, backed by a readiness to go to trial. Insurance companies know we prepare every case for court. That usually leads to fair settlement or maximum compensation.
Ongoing Support Throughout Your Recovery
We stay in touch during your recovery. We adjust demands if your injuries or treatment needs change. You stay connected to your attorneys at each step.
Contact The Weinstein Firm for Help with Your Car Accident Claim!
If you were injured in a car crash, do not face the insurance company alone. Our team at The Weinstein Firm is ready to fight for your rights and secure the full compensation you deserve. We offer a free case evaluation and you pay nothing unless we win.
Contact us at 770-HELP-NOW for a free claim review today!
