Jill Kolodner | December 14, 2020 | Car Accidents
More than 100,000 car accidents occur every year in the state of Maryland, with a significant percentage of those taking place in Baltimore. While for many, any damage done will be minimal and resolved through an insurance claim, for hundreds and even thousands more, legal action is necessary in order to receive fair compensation.
When you are in an accident that requires a lawsuit in order to get the money you deserve, one of the most powerful tools in your bag is the accident report. An accident report is written by the police officers or investigators who first responded to the accident. It is filled with all manner of pertinent information and can help establish which party, if any, was at fault and to what extent.
Information Contained in an Accident Report
There are other crucial pieces of information contained in an accident report such as the officer’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. Additionally, accident reports include information like:
- Where and when the accident occurred
- The identities of those who witnessed the accident
- The weather conditions on the day of the accident
- A record of any citations that were issued at the scene of the accident
- A diagram of the accident
An accident report will also verify the extent of the damage and where it is located on the vehicles involved in the accident. With all that valuable information, it is little wonder an accident report is one of the most important documents in a car accident lawsuit.
How To Obtain an Accident Report
The other good news about accident reports, at least for those in the city of Baltimore, is that they are extremely easy to obtain. Whereas in years passed and currently in some jurisdictions you have to request a report by mail and wait for it to arrive, you can now order an accident report online and download it immediately.
This feature especially is helpful because it allows your lawyers to get their hands on a copy quickly and begin plotting their strategy immediately.
In Baltimore, if you want to obtain a copy of an accident report, you can do so from the LexisNexis BuyCrash database.
The database stores all records of car accidents in Baltimore and can be accessed as long as you have one of the following pieces of information:
- The accident report number (given by the officer at the scene)
- Your last name and the date the accident occurred
- Your last name and the name of the street where the accident occurred
It should be noted that it can take some time for the report to be added to the system. If you have checked for a recent accident and can’t find the report, wait a few days and try again. The LexisNexis database even has a feature that allows you to sign up for a notification so you can know when the report is ready.
What to Do if You Have Been Injured in an Accident
Car accident injuries happen every day in Baltimore and the entire state of Maryland. While a car accident report is a good first step toward seeking justice and the compensation you deserve, hiring a qualified car accident lawyer is another crucial step in the process. A skilled lawyer will be able to obtain a car accident report on your behalf if you wish and then build a strong case off of the information contained in the report.
They will also conduct an additional investigation and contact witnesses if necessary. From start to finish a lawyer can handle all correspondence with the other party and their insurance company and keep you up to date with the progress of your case. Contact a seasoned personal injury lawyer today to begin your path to recovering the damages you are due.
To learn more, call our personal injury law firm at 410-837-2144 or visit our contact us page to send us an email.
Contact the Baltimore Car Accident Law Firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information contact the Baltimore car accident law firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation.
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers
14 W Madison St, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
(410) 837-2144
WGK Personal Injury Lawyer – Dundalk Office
7329 Holabird Ave Suite 3, Dundalk, MD 21222
(410) 970-3080
