In many car accidents, police are called to the scene. This results in a police report being made, which details what occurred and who was involved, along with many other pieces of pertinent information.
If you choose to pursue a legal claim against the other driver or drivers, you will need to request an accident report. In Georgia, there are certain steps you must take to get a report so it can be included within your injury claim. There are other important steps you can take after an accident to ensure your rights are respected and the responsible is held accountable for his or her actions.
How to request a crash report in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Transportation has a Crash Reporting Unit, which can provide reports to authorized individuals. However, if the Georgia State Patrol were at the accident scene, you might need to request records from the appropriate local patrol post, depending on where the crash occurred.
When submitting a request for records, you must provide certain information for the request to be processed. This includes your full contact info (name, address, and phone number), the names of the people listed within the accident report, which records you want access to, the county or city where the crash occurred, the date the accident happened, and the number on the report if you have that information.
Other essential steps to take after a car accident
Even if you do not feel that your injuries are severe, you should have them assessed by a medical professional immediately following the crash. Some injuries can take days or weeks to emerge, and the sooner you are aware, the sooner they can be treated.
If there were any bystanders on the scene who provide their contact information to you, reach out to them to see if they are willing to make a statement regarding who was at fault. This is especially helpful when another driver disputes fault, which may require further evidence to show what actually occurred. Along with the police report, witness testimony is very compelling, as it is from a third party not involved in the accident.