How to Get a Police Report for an Accident in Indianapolis

In the event of an accident, drivers are to pull off the road if they are able and contact the police for help. In emergencies, the police and emergency medical personnel will be dispatched to the accident scene. Any time the police are called to an accident scene, they draft and file an official report. The report is often necessary for drivers when dealing with the fallout from their accident.

Getting an accident report requires contacting the police department that investigated your accident. This may mean speaking to a local Indianapolis police department or the Indiana State Police. Many drivers do not think about the report until after the accident. The police are the ones responsible for creating the report, so it is not something drivers are concerned with until they want to file a lawsuit or insurance claim.

If you were in a car accident and are unsure how to obtain the relevant police report, our Indianapolis car accident lawyers can assist you. The team at Wruck Paupore can help you get the report and use it to file an insurance claim or begin a personal injury lawsuit. Call us at (219) 322-1166 to arrange a free legal consultation.

Accident Reports from State and Local Police Departments in Indianapolis

Depending on where your accident happened and who responded, you may have to contact local Indianapolis police departments for your accident report. Indianapolis is a big city with a large police force. While the police force is certainly a unified entity, it is also divided into various departments and precincts that may oversee different parts of the city. You must follow up with the precinct or department that investigated your accident to get your police report.

You can search for your accident report online if you are unsure which officer or department investigated your case. The Indianapolis police make reports available in several ways. You can request a report over the phone, through the mail, in person, or online. Searching online is often easiest if you are unsure whom to contact, and all police reports are kept in one database. You may find your report by entering your personal information, such as your name and address, or other information about your accident. There may be a fee to access your report, usually about $10 to $12.

If you were in an accident around the Indianapolis area that fell under the jurisdiction of the state police, you must contact the ISP for your accident report. Much like local police departments, the ISP also makes reports available online for a small fee. It is important to request your accident report sooner rather than later, as it may take some time to deliver the report. If you do not know where to begin, our Hammond, IN car accident attorneys can help you obtain the police report from your accident.

Accidents Reports from the Indianapolis Police for Personal Injury Lawsuits

People are often intimidated by accident reports from the police. These reports may or may not contain incriminating information about your accident, depending on who was at fault. While drivers are not required by law to obtain a copy of their accident report, it can be very helpful to a personal injury lawsuit. If you have lost your card, you can still obtain your accident report.

After a car accident, drivers are often seriously injured, and their vehicles are damaged or totaled. Accidents tend to happen very fast, and drivers have unreliable recollections of what happened. Some drivers have very little memory of their accident, describing it as one big blur. The police report on your accident can help you put important pieces of the puzzle in place before you file a lawsuit.

Crucial information, including who was in the crash and the identity of witnesses, may all be in the accident report. A police report can also shed light on the facts of your accident if you and a defendant disagree over how the accident happened. For example, a defendant might insist that they were going the speed limit when they crashed into you. However, the police report might contain information to the contrary.

If the police had reason to believe the defendant was speeding, perhaps even by the defendant's own admission at the time, it would be in the report. Our Fort Wayne car accident attorneys can help you review your report and use it to further your personal injury lawsuit against the other driver.

Getting Accidents Reports for Insurance Claims in Indianapolis

Even if you do not want to file a personal injury lawsuit after your car accident, you may still need the accident report from the police. Usually, insurance companies like to see some proof of the accident and a showing of fault before making any payments to drivers. Insurance companies frequently request a police report if you file a claim regarding a car accident.

All drivers in Indiana are required by law to carry insurance. In some states, insurance is awarded on a no-fault basis. This means that drivers are entitled to automatic coverage up to a certain amount from their own insurance providers after an accident, and the drivers need not demonstrate fault. Indiana does not follow this system. Instead, Indiana is an at-fault state and requires proof that you are not to blame for the accident before paying you anything.

Accident reports from the police can help you prove that another driver caused the accident. In some cases, the police may state directly in their report who they believe caused the accident. Our Indiana car accident lawyers can not only help you get the necessary police report but also guide you through the process of filing your insurance claim.

Call Our Car Accident Injury Attorneys

After a car accident, you should always contact the police so a report can be filed. Our South Bend car accident attorneys can help you obtain this report and use it to get compensation for your injuries. For a free legal consultation, call (219) 322-1166. The team at Wruck Paupore is here to help.