The Role Of Police In Determining Fault In An Automobile Accident
Being involved in an automobile accident can be very stressful and frustrating. One of the most important issues is determining fault for the collision. This information is needed for an insurance company to determine how benefits will be paid out for injuries or damages. When you obtain car insurance quotes, your previous insurance history will show if you have ever been assigned fault for an accident.
When an accident occurs, the police will attend in most situations, depending on the seriousness of the damages and injuries. The role of the police is usually to determine who is responsible for causing an accident. They will interview witnesses as well as all drivers involved so that they can get an accurate picture of what events led up to the accident. Witness accounts are usually all that is needed when determining fault, but in some cases, more extensive investigating is required.
An investigator may be deployed to document the scene and reconstruct the accident. This is common if the accident was very serious or involved serious injuries or fatalities. An investigator can measure skid marks as well as scrutinize damages to surrounding property and all vehicles that were involved in the accident. Determining fault in these situations is critical as liability issues and lawsuits can erupt in addition to the insurance claims.
When the police attend the scene of an accident, they will fill out an accident report which lists pertinent information about the accident. A police report will list the date, time, and exact location of the accident. It will also state all personal information of all involved parties, including name, contact information, and insurance information. Each driver gets a copy of the police report and is required to pass it on to their insurance company when they file the claim.
Each type of traffic violation is assigned a traffic code which can affect the way insurance claims are processed. Certain traffic codes are more serious than others and therefore, can cause higher premium increases. When an officer attends an accident, they will assign one of these traffic codes to the at fault driver.
As stated before, car insurance quotes reflect any tickets or accidents that a person may have accumulated in the past. A person's previous insurance history will record any at fault accidents as well as traffic codes that show exactly what kind of risk a driver poses to an insurance company. The police play an important role in determining fault when an accident occurs. This role will help determine who gets charged for an accident and who is responsible for paying for damage and injuries that may have incurred as a result.
