Any Albany car accident lawyer knows that one of the most frustrating things about getting into a fender-bender is waiting for the cops to show up. When they first come, they usually talk to the people involved and try to get an idea of what happened. Then they embark on their own, thorough investigation.
They look at the vehicles and the impact spots. They also investigate the road to see if there are any signs of vehicle tracks. Whatever evidence they unearth, they’ll put it into their final police report. You may have no idea what the police think happened if you don’t get a copy of that report. In addition, your Albany car accident lawyer needs a copy of the report to prepare your case.
Rather than run into problems with not calling the cops, make the call. Dial 911 as soon as possible after the crash. Not only will the police do their own investigation, but they’ll also arrange for an ambulance to come and take you to the hospital. Once you have settled in after the accident, give one of our Georgia injury attorneys a call and schedule your free, initial consultation.
If the Crash Was Minor, You’ll Be Tempted to Not Call the Police
Most people who don’t call the cops don’t think they need to. Their accident is minor, and nobody seems injured. They would rather just file a claim with their insurance company. The last thing they want to do is stand awkwardly on the side of the road making small talk with the person who smashed into their car.
Once the cops arrive, it will take them some time to investigate the crash site. They’ll need to talk to the drivers involved. They may even have a few eyewitnesses to speak with. Since every crash is different, there’s no way to know for sure how long you’ll wait.
What you don’t realize is that you have no idea if the crash is truly minor. Just because nobody thinks they’re hurt, that doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering from internal injuries. You could also find out that one of the vehicles is damaged.
For example, you could have sustained damage to your transmission. You may not realize it until later that day on your way home. By that time, there’s very little you can do about it. For all you know, the other driver may have given you fake information.
You Have No Idea if the Other Driver Is Being Honest With You
If the other driver is pressuring you to not call the cops, you should be wary. There are all sorts of reasons why the other driver would not want to get the cops involved. None of them are good. In our Albany car accident lawyers’ experience, some of the more common problems our clients run into include the following:
- The other driver is in a stolen vehicle
- The other driver may not have a valid driver’s license
- They could be driving without valid insurance
- The other driver may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
A major problem arises if the other driver is drunk or high. Once you let them leave the scene of the accident, there will be no way to prove they were impaired. If, however, you wait for the cops, they will check both drivers to see if they’re under the influence.
Your Albany Car Accident Lawyer Will Need the Police Report
The police report isn’t just something you need to file with the state. Your Georgia injury lawyer is going to need this report to prove your case. If they have no idea what happened at the scene, it will be your word against the word of the other driver.
They may tell a whole new story when they talk to the insurance adjuster. For example, they may tell them that you drove off and you didn’t have a chance to call the cops. Or they may argue that you smashed into their car and then offered them money to keep quiet about it.
The insurance adjuster has no reason to think otherwise if you don’t call the cops. This is especially true if the other driver files their insurance claim before you do. They tend to take the word of the first reporter as the truth.
Your Georgia Injury Attorney May Not Be Able to Prove Your Case
One other problem you’ll run into if you don’t call the cops is your Albany car accident lawyer won’t be able to prove your case. They need the contact information for the eyewitnesses. They’ll also need a description of the road conditions. They will not have access to any of this information if you don’t call 911. If you want the best chance of winning your case, you need to protect your rights.
You Need to Call 911 and Wait for the Police No Matter What
One thing any Albany car accident lawyer will tell you is that you must call 911 after your car accident. It is tempting to just trade insurance information with the other driver and drive away. Nobody wants to spend what feels like half their day waiting for the police to do their thing.
There are also a lot of people who will work hard to convince you not to call the cops. Nine times out of ten, there is something going on that they don’t want the police to find out about. For example, the other driver’s insurance may not be valid. You have no way of knowing that – the cops do.
We suggest that you contact our office as soon as possible after your car crash. Sit down with one of our Georgia injury attorneys and let them review your case. Make sure to bring a copy of your police report with you to your free, initial consultation.
The best way for your lawyer to know if you have a potential claim for damages is to review the police report. You should also bring any correspondence you’ve exchanged with the insurance company or defendant’s attorney.
Since the initial consultation is free, you don’t have to worry about paying anything upfront. In fact, our Albany car accident lawyers aren’t paid anything until we settle your case.
