An accident involving motor vehicles, though an unfortunate aspect of life that many residents of New Jersey have experienced, can be handled more adroitly with the use of a police report. When car accidents occur — or a similar incident in which a law enforcement officer was called in — one of these was most likely generated. An individual is entitled to a copy of this report.
It is advantageous to contact the law enforcement agency that responded to the accident as soon after the incident took place as possible. This is handled by calling to submit the request. Sometimes a small fee is charged for photocopying. While some agencies require the requester to pick the report up in person, other agencies would be more than happy to mail the copy to the individual at no charge at all.
Though not admissible in a civil court proceeding, a police report can, nonetheless, help tremendously to gain negotiation leverage in a personal injury suit. For example, this comes into play during the informal settlement discussions that will take place with the opposing counsel, as the individual’s attorney can utilize the facts — and conclusions — that the report contains. This can be an advantage in settling crucial details of the accident, such as its circumstances and the preliminary assessment of fault.
If an individual or a loved one might be dealing with a potential personal injury suit, that individual may require the counsel of an attorney. An experienced attorney whose specialization is in handling injuries and car accidents may be able to help obtain compensation for any documented financial losses, including medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages. New Jersey individuals typically consult attorney as soon as possible after the accident.
Source: FindLaw, “Obtaining and Using a Police Report“, Accessed on June 14, 2016