How to talk to the police after a car wreck
The more accurate the police report, the more it helps your claim
ALWAYS assess the situation after getting into a car wreck, and if there are any injuries, immediately call 911.
But if there are no seeable injuries (or at least none that require immediate attention) you need to call the police. You might hesitate if the wreck is very minor or if the car has seemingly no damage, but something could still be wrong on the inside. The same goes for your body. You might not think you have an injury, but symptoms could take a while to show up. Plus, even in minor accidents, the other driver could be doing something nefarious or become argumentative. So for your own safety, call the police after ANY wreck.
Once the police arrive, they are going to start writing down everything that happened at the wreck, and they will interview both you and the other driver. Here’s how to talk to a police officer after a wreck to ensure you get an accurate police report:
- Be patient and calm. It will probably take some time for an officer to get to your location, especially if there are no injuries. This could make you upset and irritable, causing the officer to take your information poorly. If you are calm and clear, the officer usually will be too.
- Be thoroughly detailed. Remember, this document could make or break your claim, and it will only be as good as the information you provide. List everything that happened and describe the scene of the wreck, being sure to point out any evidence from the environment. That could include the time of day the wreck occurred, the traffic, or even skid marks on the road. List anything on the car that has changed as a result.
- Mention everyone in the car with you. If you are the one talking to the officer, the officer might not even notice other passengers or people in the back or side of the vehicle. Make sure that everyone that was in the vehicle is written down.
- List ANY aches and pains. Once again, you could think a minor injury might not be worth noting down, but if you develop more serious symptoms after a police report says no injury, you could find yourself paying for those medical bills.
- DO NOT blame or argue with the other driver. It’s important that the officer sees you as objective as possible. This will give your testimony more credence.
- Stick to the facts. If you start listing or complaining about things outside of the wreck, the officer will have a hard time filtering through details and might miss important facts about your wreck.
- Don’t admit guilt. You hear insurance companies say this all the time, and it can seem dishonest. However, until the facts of the case are fully revealed, it’s hard to know all the contributing factors in a wreck. It is best for you to be as objective and detailed about the wreck as possible so the police report reflects what actually happened.
We’ve had several cases where the police report was misleading or incorrect. That is why it is critical to make sure the officer has written everything down and included all the details you have mentioned.
Finally, you will want to hire a lawyer quickly. Of course, we would recommend the Jones Law Firm. We have been a staple of the Jackson, Mississippi area for years, and we handle cases like this everyday. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the better evidence they can gather to support your claim.
Our very own Baskin Jones was recently hit in a wreck, and he told MPB all about it. You can watch it here:
Have you been injured or know someone who has? Our lawyers at The Jones Law Firm work to help you get the financial compensation you need under Mississippi state laws.
We strive to put our clients first and to go above and beyond the call of duty.
The Jones Law Firm is here to help and we look forward to scheduling your complimentary initial case review. We are confident you will be highly impressed with the great reputation we have built within the greater Mississippi area.