If you have been in a car accident in Augusta, filing a police report is an important step you should take immediately after your accident. The police report contains information that will be heavily relied upon in a Georgia car accident claim or lawsuit.
Obtaining a copy of the police report regarding your car accident is not difficult if you follow the proper procedure. If you hire an Augusta car accident attorney to handle your claim, they can also request the police report for you. The lawyers at John Foy & Associates regularly request copies of police reports as part of their initial investigation of car accident claims and are able to do so quickly and competently.
Information Contained in Police Reports
Every county in Georgia uses the same accident report form, called the Georgia Uniform Motor Vehicle Accident Report. These police reports contain all the important information regarding your car wreck. The data contained in the police reports may be used to support your car accident claim.
There are four main sections of a motor vehicle accident report in Augusta. These sections include the First Page, the Second Page, the Supplemental Report, and the Overlay Page.
The First Page
The First Page, or front page, of the crash report contains the most vital information regarding your car accident, including:
- Date, time, and location of the accident
- Vehicle driver and owner information
- Alcohol and drug test results
- Contributing factors
- Citations or tickets issued
The Second Page
The Second Page, or back page, of the accident report contains space for the reporting officer to record more details about your motor vehicle accident, such as:
- Summary of what happened before, during, and after the accident
- Diagram of the vehicles’ positions
- Property damage information
- Witnesses
- Vehicle occupants and their injuries
The Supplemental Page
The Supplemental Page of the police report contains additional space for the responding officer to make comments, record more citations given, and list additional occupants. The space for more occupants includes the following information:
- Whether airbags deployed
- If seatbelts were worn
- Whether anyone was injured
- If any occupants were extricated from the vehicle
- Emergency medical treatment details
The Overlay Page
The Overlay Page of a Georgia crash report contains codes relating to nearly every detail of your accident. Some of these data points include:
- The type of collision
- Contributing factors
- Location of impact
- Weather
- Road conditions
Understanding a police report can be difficult for the average person. However, a skilled car accident attorney knows how to read Georgia accident reports. They can use the information included in them to investigate and support your car accident claim.
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Why Police Reports Are Important After Car Accidents
If you have been involved in a car accident in Augusta, it is in your best interest to call the police immediately and request that they complete an accident report. Without a police report, it may be difficult to prove another party was at fault. Proving liability in a car accident claim is vital to recovering compensation for your damages.
Obtaining an accident report after your collision can also clarify how the accident happened. You may be questioned regarding the details of your car accident many months into your claim. It can be difficult to recall the specifics without a police report.
Some insurance companies may require you to provide a police report after your car accident. An experienced car accident attorney can help you file a car insurance claim and personal injury lawsuit within the time limits required by Georgia law. Having a copy of your accident report can help prevent unnecessary delays.
What Information Is Needed to Request a Police Report in Augusta
To request a copy of the police report for your car accident in Augusta, you may need to know the jurisdiction where your accident occurred. You may also need to provide your name, the date of the accident, and one or more of the following:
- The accident report number
- The vehicle’s VIN number
- Your driver’s license number
If you are unsure what you need to request a copy of your police report, you can ask your car accident lawyer for guidance. You can also request that they obtain a copy for you. They are experienced and can often get it more quickly.
How to Obtain a Police Report in Augusta
As mentioned above, you can ask your car accident attorney to get a copy of your Augusta police report. However, if you choose to request a copy of the report yourself, there are two main ways to get it.
- You can go to the police department that responded to your accident and pick up a copy of the accident report for 10 cents per page. If your accident happened in Augusta, GA, you will likely need to pick it up from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the report will typically be available five days after your accident.
- You can request a copy of the accident report from the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) website or through the third-party website BuyCrash.com. The fee for ordering a copy through the third-party site is $11.
How you choose to obtain a copy of your accident report is up to you. If you are already overwhelmed with the injuries and other effects of your car accident, it may be best to ask your Augusta car accident lawyer to obtain a copy of the report for you.
What to Do if an Accident Report Is Inaccurate
Once you receive your police report, you may notice it contains a mistake or inaccurate information. If this is the case, it is important that you make a request to have the report amended. Your car accident attorney and the lawyer for the insurance company or at-fault party will use the information in the report to support their claims and defenses.
If you notice inaccurate information in your accident report, you must contact the police department to provide the correct information. Only you or someone else who was at the scene of the accident can request an amended report. You should make this request as soon as possible after your accident when the parties involved still have a clear recollection of the collision.
Getting Help for Your Car Accident in Georgia
It is important to request a police report for your Augusta car accident as soon as possible after your accident. The report contains pertinent information that your experienced car accident lawyers can use to help you obtain maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
Contact our skilled attorneys at John Foy & Associates today for a free consultation to discuss your potential car accident claim.
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