So, you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Worcester, Massachusetts, and you’re wondering, “How does the police report affect my case?”
So, the reality is it’s pretty important to proving your case. Now, I’m not saying you can’t pursue a personal injury case, a car accident without a police report. You absolutely can, and if you call me, we’re going to take your claim and we’re going to fight for you. But the reality is that’s our best piece of evidence initially to identify what happened.
So, what do you do? The accident happens. First thing is don’t move your vehicle, right? Because the positioning of the vehicle is what’s going to tell the police officer how the accident occurred when he hears your story, the defendant, the other driver’s story, and the position of the vehicles. If you both move your vehicles and then the defendant changes their story and they lie, which believe me, it happens all the time, then the police officer has to try to piece it together and figure it out. Whereas, if you’re both in the middle of the road and here’s your story, if they lie, it’s pretty obvious that they’re lying because, well, how did the cars get to where they are based on the story you’re telling me? It doesn’t make sense. So, 911, we’re in the middle of the road, we’re blocking traffic, and we’ve been involved in an accident and I need a police officer to take a report.
Number two, if you’re injured, I need a rescue. So, make sure the rescue is rolling at the same time as the police officer.
Number three, witnesses. Often witnesses are going to give you their name and they’re going to say, “I can’t really stay. I have to get to work.” And they’re going to leave. You want to compel that witness to try to stay. Ask them for their ID. Take a picture of their ID if they’re going to leave. Or just hold on to it so you can give it to the police officer when they get there. That kind of deters them from leaving the scene. Why is that important? Because you want their statement taken contemporaneously to the accident. And you want it taken by the police officer, not by you. You’re biased. So, you want that witness to give the statement to the police officer. So, remember, can you pursue a case without a police report? Absolutely. Call me and we’re going to fight for you. But it’s better to have one. It’s better to document correctly. So, that’s my advice.
