When a crash occurs, you must call the police and wait for them to arrive. Police officers gather information to prepare an official police report, which can later be obtained by you or your attorney. Your official Maine car accident report will be important for determining who was responsible for your collision. That's because the story will likely change in the days following the crash. When an official car accident report is put together, the evidence of the crash is fresh and unbiased.
When you try to pursue a car accident claim, it's just your word against the other party's word. Two drivers involved in the same crash can have different versions of what happened. Having a police officer investigate brings in a third party to gather the facts, to collect physical evidence from the crash scene, interview all parties involved and interview witnesses. It's important that you get a copy of your official Maine car accident report and review it for errors. The other driver's insurance company will capitalize on any errors on the report and use them to downplay or deny your claim. Here's what you need to know.
Your official Maine car accident report
You can obtain a copy of your official car accident report at the Maine State Police website for a fee of $10. Sometimes, the official report can be confusing and difficult to read. The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein offers a comprehensive guide to reading your official car accident report.
Here's what you can expect to find in boxes 1 through 12:
- Date, time and location of the crash
- Driver and car information
- Insurance company information
- Type of crash
- If a fixed object was struck
- Other property damage
- If there were any traffic control devices
- The weather and road conditions
- If the crash occurred at a roadside construction site
- Whether or not an emergency vehicle was involved
In boxes 13 through 21, you'll find:
- Name and car information of the at-fault driver
- Insurance company information of the at-fault driver
Boxes 25 through 34 will consist of:
- Age and gender of all car occupants
- Injury details
- Use of safety equipment
- Which cars were occupied
- If anyone was ejected from a car during the crash
- Position of each occupant at the time of the crash
How your report can help your claim
An experienced car accident attorney at The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein can use the information on your crash report to conduct a much broader investigation. If any information on your report is inaccurate, we can also fight to have it corrected.
If you were hurt in a crash that was caused by someone else's negligence, you're likely facing steep medical costs and other damages relating to your crash. You deserve to be compensated to the fullest extent. Our legal team will deal with the other driver's insurance company for you and negotiate for a fair and full settlement on your behalf.
Put experience and power on your side today. Contact us for a free and confidential case evaluation. We are Maine lawyers working for Maine people.
