If you have been involved in an accident to which the police responded such as a motor vehicle accident on a highway, the police will prepare a police report. You are entitled to a copy of the police report. In most jurisdictions you can collect a copy of the report from the police station. The exact procedures may vary between jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions you may have to pay a small fee. However you should collect a copy of the police report as soon as possible.

Police Report and Your Claim

While the police report itself may not be used as evidence in your personal injury lawsuit, it can help in your negotiations with the at fault party. The police report may contain facts that can add weight to your claims in a negotiation. The police report will generally contain the following details:

• Details of the accident such as the location, time, date, weather conditions

• Police observations as to who is at fault based on what the officers saw at the scene of the accident

You can also use the police report to find out if there are any witnesses to the accident. The police report will also have the name and contact details of such witnesses. Witnesses can play a crucial role in a personal injury lawsuit.