Do I need to get a police report after an accident?

There are many good reasons to insist on a police report after an accident. In the Los Angeles area, police officers won't come to the scene unless an injury is being reported. Therefore, even if you think you have a mild injury, getting a report may be helpful. Here are some quick reasons:

1) The other party can easily change their story. It's harder for the responsible party to do so if their story has already been documented by an officer.

2) The responsible party (and their insurance company) cannot later deny being involved in an accident. Yes, you might be surprised what some folks will say after an accident.

3) Report your injuries (however minor) to the police officer. Be overinclusive rather than underinclusive. This is not the time to be "brave" and dismiss your own injuries. Insurance companies routinely use the lack of complaints of injury at the scene as evidence of NO injury.

4) The officers can summon additional assistance if necessary.

5) Police reports can help establish liability in case the responsible party tries to deny fault later on in the case. While the officer's opinion is not the gospel truth, it is certainly helpful if the officer finds in your favor.

Getting a police report is usually a good idea. Your lawyer should also be able to order a copy for you unless you've already obtained a copy prior to your initial consultation.

If you have questions about your personal injury case, feel free to contact Santa Clarita personal injury and accident lawyer Robert Mansour.