FAQs: Car Accident Reports in Georgia
February 28, 2023 | J.L. King
You may know that the official car accident report made by the police is critical evidence after a car accident. You may need to submit it to your insurance company or provide a copy to your car accident attorney as part of your case, but where do you obtain your copy?
All the information about the collision is in the police report, and every officer in Georgia uses the same form.
What Information Is on a Car Accident Report in Georgia?
You will find all the relevant information for your car accident on the form, including:
- Names, contact information, and driver’s license numbers of all drivers involved
- The insurance information of all drivers
- Date, time, and location of the collision, as well as weather and road conditions
A narrative by the police officer about how the crash happened is also included. This narrative may indicate who is to blame for the wreck and will indicate if drugs or alcohol contributed to the collision.
How Is a Georgia Car Accident Report Structured?
The first page contains information about the other driver, any citations issued at the crash, and their insurance information. The second page is the officer’s narrative and may contain a diagram of the crash scene and notes on damage to each vehicle.
The supplemental page indicates if the airbags were deployed and if the occupants used seat belts. There is also information about any passengers in the vehicles and if anyone had to be extracted from the car.
The accident report has the driver’s name and the vehicle owner’s name — if these are not the same person, there may be multiple layers of coverage from the at-fault driver.
The report has certain overlay codes, so the officer codes it instead of writing out the report. The codes represent the contributing factors of the crash, the direction of travel for both vehicles and the types of injuries passengers suffered.
Does the Car Accident Report Affect My Claim?
Sometimes, drivers may simply exchange insurance information if neither one feels hurt and the damage to the vehicles looks negligible. They may not want to involve the police for a minor incident.
However, the accident report can be vital to a car accident lawsuit. It has all the information your Tifton car accident lawyer needs to build your case, all in one place.
How Can I Get a Copy of My Car Accident Report?
Each police department has slightly different ways of distributing the accident report. You may be able to:
- Pick up a copy from the department in person
- Send a request for the report by mail to the department or county clerk’s office
- Order a copy from a third-party website
Parties involved in a car crash may receive the report for free if they go to the station in person or may pay a small fee to use a third-party website.
How Does My Car Accident Lawyer Use the Car Accident Report?
Your lawyer builds a case against the other driver, and the information in the report can be used to show that they caused the accident. The second page, with the officer’s narrative and a diagram of the crash, provides much of the proof necessary to determine which driver is at fault.
The listed damage to the vehicle is important, too — your attorney may have an expert crash reconstructionist reenact the crash, using clues gleaned from the placement of the damage on each vehicle.
Contact a Tifton Car Accident Lawyer for Help Obtaining Your Accident Report
A car accident report contains vital information you will need if you’re filing a claim with your insurance or pursuing a claim against the at-fault driver in your accident. Make sure you get a copy for your insurance company. Alternatively, your attorney can obtain the accident report for you.
For more information, please contact The King Firm at your nearest location to schedule a free case evaluation today.
Tifton Office
1603 US Hwy 41, Tifton, GA 31794
(229) 386-1376
Griffin Office
3317 Fayetteville Rd, Griffin, GA 30223
(404) 567-4546
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