You may be embarrassed or perplexed immediately after your car accident event. Or, you may shrug it off as no big deal because you do not notice any damage to your car or injuries on your body. Perhaps you may even feel sympathy for the at-fault driver and quickly accept their apologies. Whatever it may be, you may go against your better judgment and walk away from the scene without calling the police first. However, this is arguably the worst thing you can do for yourself. Read on to learn why police involvement is needed for your claim and how a seasoned Panama City car accident attorney at Manuel & Thompson, PA can help you obtain one.
Why is police involvement necessary for my car accident claim?
Our team of attorneys will anonymously convey to you how absolutely necessary it is to call a police officer onto the scene of your car accident. This is because an officer will do you the service of conducting an official accident report. Within this report, an officer may disclose their expert opinion on who is to blame for the genesis of the accident event. Plus, they may detail the extent of bodily injuries and property damages each involved party likely incurred.
Overall, this report contains pivotal information for your future, potential personal injury claim filed with the Florida civil court. Or, your auto insurance claim filed with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. This is because you may have a better chance of receiving the financial compensation you require to recover from your bodily injuries and property damages.
What happens if I do not have an accident report for my claim?
As you may likely conclude yourself, the absence of an official accident report may it all the more difficult to get your auto insurance claim approved. This is because an insurance adjuster may challenge the validity of your claim without the proper evidence. With this, they may reduce or altogether deny your payout. At the very least, your payout may be delayed, which is not ideal if you desperately need the funds for your medical bills, car repairs, and more.
As for your personal injury claim, you have a burden of proof as a plaintiff. This means you must provide the Florida civil court with sufficient evidence that the other driver’s (i.e., the defendant’s) negligent actions directly led to your car accident and subsequent injuries and damages. Therefore, not having this report will not go unnoticed by the court.
Last but not least, it is technically illegal to not report a car accident to the police in the state of Florida. This is if the accident involved bodily injuries, property damages, and especially fatalities. So this may have you facing further legal consequences.
In conclusion, a competent Panama City auto accident attorney can help kickstart your legal action today. Our team at Manuel & Thompson, PA will happily take on your case.
