How To File a Police Report After an Accident

What Is a Police Report After a Car Accident?

When people get a police report after a car accident, they’re receiving an official document that law enforcement writes after a traffic incident.

This report offers a significant amount of information on the crash, including:

• Date, time, and location of the incident.
• Vehicle details.
• Contact information and names of drivers, passengers, and witnesses.
• Traffic, road, and weather conditions at the time of the accident.
• Description of property damage and injuries.
• How the accident occurred, as reported by those involved.
• Diagram of the accident scene.
• Citations, if any were issued.

The report may also include the police officer’s assessment of which driver they think was at fault for the accident.

Is a Police Report Required in Wyoming?

A police report is required in Wyoming for any car accident in which there are injuries, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more.

If law enforcement doesn’t get to the scene of the accident, it is up to the drivers to report the collision to local police, the county sheriff, or the state highway patrol.

Why Is a Police Report Important for Your Claim? 

A police report leaves a record of the accident and paints a clear picture of what happened. It’s an objective look at the collision that helps identify fault and establish the losses that both parties suffered.

What Information Is Included in a Report?

In a police report, you can find a variety of information, such as details on the following:

• When and how the accident occurred.
• The various people present.
• The state of the roads and weather.
• The losses that each party had.
• Whether any citations were issued.

The report might also include diagrams and the officer’s opinion on which party is responsible for the accident.

How Do You Get a Police Report in Wyoming?

If you’ve been searching for “How to: Accident Report” after a collision, there are a few ways to do so. You can obtain a copy of the police report by going in person to the pertinent police department or mailing their records division.

It’s possible to request a copy online through the Wyoming Department of Transportation, too, or have your attorney get a copy on your behalf.

Can You File a Claim Without a Police Report? 

You can file a claim without having a police report, but it can be much harder to establish liability without the information that this document offers. Not having a report may end up reducing the compensation you receive, and you could be saddled with a higher fault percentage than is fair.

What if There Is a Mistake in the Report? 

If there’s a mistake in the police report, it’s important to address it. You can contact the agency that issued the report and clearly state what the error is. To correct it, you will need to provide evidence. For example, if your name is spelled incorrectly, offering your ID to verify your identity will be necessary.

If the officer can’t update the report or chooses not to do so, you can file a supplemental report. This is a document that is added to the existing report.

What To Do After a Car Accident

After a car accident in Wyoming, you will need to take a few crucial steps, including:

• Contact emergency services.
• Get medical treatment.
• Speak with responding police officers.
• Gather evidence from the site.
• Let your insurer know you were in a crash.
• Contact a car accident lawyer from our team for assistance.

If you need to go to the hospital, make sure to do so. Not listening to the instructions that emergency personnel give you can hurt your claim later.

Why Work With a Car Accident Lawyer?

Getting help from a car accident lawyer from our team is essential for these claims. We can walk you through your rights under Wyoming law and gather evidence that can support your claim.

Another important reason why a car accident lawyer is vital is that they know how to negotiate with insurance companies. Insurers often do everything they can to pin the blame on you.

Wyoming has modified comparative negligence laws, which allow you to still recover losses, as long as you are less than 50% liable for the accident. Your winnings will be impacted by your degree of fault, however. Your attorney can fight to ensure that your degree of fault is not greater than you deserve.

If disputes continue and a settlement becomes unlikely, then your attorney can pursue a lawsuit. These court cases can help you obtain fair compensation.

How Bachus & Schanker Can Help 

At Bachus & Schanker, we provide the support you need after a car accident in Wyoming. We understand firsthand the stress you’re under and will do everything we can to make the process a bit easier. With our compassionate team by your side, you can focus on healing from your injuries, while we manage the rest.

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