Robert M. Hammers | August 15, 2024 | Car Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents result in thousands of injuries throughout Georgia every year. In 2022, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety reported 8,937 serious injuries and an additional 1,818 fatalities on Georgia roadways. But keeping track of injury rates isn’t the only reason car accident reports are needed.
You may need a copy of your auto accident report if you decide to file a lawsuit to receive financial compensation. The report can help make determinations of fault and damage. Insurance companies and personal injury lawyers rely on the information in a report when they are deciding what a fair settlement is.
Getting Your Georgia Accident Report
The Georgia Department of Public Safety makes it easy to obtain a copy of your accident report when you need one. If a Georgia State patrol officer responded to the accident, you must obtain a crash report from that office. All other accident reports can be requested directly from the Georgia Department of Transportation by filing an open records request.
To submit the request, you must provide the following information:
- Your name, mailing address, and contact number
- Which records you are requesting
- Name(s) of the other involved driver(s)
- The county and city or town where the incident occurred
- The date of the incident
- The crash report number, if known
Be aware that you may be billed $5 to $10 for the report.
If the report was filed by local police, you can also visit or call the nearest police station to request a copy of the form.
What Information Does an Accident Report Contain?
A crash report contains a wealth of information and is an important document when you’re building a case. Suppose that you have been involved in any type of motor vehicle accident, including a truck or motorcycle accident. In that case, it’s a good idea to bring the crash report to your initial consultation with a lawyer.
Witness Statements
If witnesses were available, their statements would be included in an accident report. Information from other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians can help clarify the facts of an accident and provide information that leads to more fair compensation for a plaintiff.
Factual Details
Contact information for the involved parties and witnesses as well as small details like the time, date, and exact location of the accident are recorded in the report. These details may seem minor, but issues such as weather, road conditions, and location can make a big difference when presenting a legal case.
Diagrams and Photos
The responding law official will draw a diagram or perhaps take pictures of the crash scene. This depiction will highlight the path of the vehicles, the point of collision, and the location of the incident.
Fact Or Fiction?
Being involved in a collision is a stressful experience. Each party has its own perspective and assumptions. Even when everyone involved is doing their best to recall the incident accurately, there can be many different versions of the story.
A crash report is a non-biased assessment by a trained third party. The information in a report is generally considered factual, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be challenged. Police officers are humans who can make mistakes. Objective facts like the date or the location of the accident can be corrected, but other information typically cannot.
Request Your Crash Report As Soon As Possible
There are many details to take care of after a car accident, especially if you or one of your passengers is seriously injured. Witnesses move or forget details. Surveillance footage from traffic cameras is often recorded over, and accident reports are subject to time limits.
Collecting evidence as quickly as possible, including your crash report, can make a difference in whether your accident lawsuit is successful.
Contact the Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers at Hammers Law Firm Today
For more information, contact the Atlanta Car Accident law firm of Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation. We have convenient locations in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Lawrenceville, Mableton, Smyrna, and Roswell.
We serve Fulton County and its surrounding areas:
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Atlanta
201 Joseph E Lowery Blvd NW Suite 312,
Atlanta, GA 30314
(770) 900-9000
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Sandy Springs
5555 Glenridge Con, Suite 975,
Sandy Springs, GA 30342
(678) 605-9838
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Lawrenceville
265 Culver St S. Suite A.
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
(678) 916-8584
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Mableton
5701 Mableton Pkwy SW Suite 108,
Mableton, GA 30126
(706) 480-5487
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Smyrna
2400 Herodian Way Ste#220,
Smyrna, GA 30080
(678) 922-4497
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Roswell
110 Mansell Cir #111,
Roswell, GA 30075
(678) 582-8466