After an auto accident, you should call the police so they can come to the scene to create an official report. Even with minor traffic collisions, you should still have the police come out because the report will be hugely advantageous when you file your insurance claim.
You will need to talk to the police, so the officers receive the clearest picture of what happened. However, you need to be mindful of what you say because your words can come back to haunt you later in court.
Personal information
The police will ask for very basic information. You should absolutely provide your name, telephone number, address and license plate number. You should also give the officer your insurance information because law enforcement may need to speak with an agent.
A detailed description of the incident
You will then need to tell the cop what exactly happened. You want to make sure you stick with the facts. Do not guess or speculate. If the police officer asks you a question you do not have an answer for, then you can simply say, “I do not know.” If you assume something at this time and turn out to be wrong, then it hurts your credibility later in court if it gets to that point.
Phrases never to say
You may feel compelled to say, “I am sorry” to the other driver, but this implies you are partially at fault. The police can misconstrue certain phrases, such as “I never saw the other car coming.” This also implies you did not pay attention even though the reason you did not see the other car is due to the fact the driver ran a red light.
You can bolster the police report by collecting evidence at the scene of the crash. Take pictures of both vehicles as well as the road itself. All this information helps your insurance company expedite the claims process.
