If you were involved in a car accident, your first instinct might be to ask how to read a car accident report in Miami. Understanding how it occurred and what led to the accident is essential if you want to prevent it from happening again. Understanding the details of the crash will also help you file an insurance claim for any property damage and medical expenses that result from the collision. Any good insurer will require their policyholders involved in an accident (no matter how minor) to complete an incident report to provide coverage. These documents can serve as valuable records for accessing details about the incident after the fact, but they aren’t something that most people know how to read on their own.

Ask for a Copy of the Police Accident Report

You will need a copy of the other driver’s report if you’re involved in a car accident with another vehicle. Most Miami-Dade police accident report records hold any citations issued during the accident and the name of the other vehicle’s driver. If you’re not sure who was driving, the news could help to identify that driver. If you’re in an accident with a pedestrian, you’ll need their name and contact information. You’ll also need to get a copy of your report. Your report will have information about your car and its condition at the time of the accident, which can help you make a case for the damages you sustained in the crash.

Read the Driver’s Statement First

The driver’s account of the accident can help identify the cause of the crash. If the other driver blames you for causing the collision, you should read their account carefully. You can compare it to your account to see if there are any inaccuracies or if there are points you want to clarify. If the driver was at fault for the crash, their account should state that they believe the accident was their fault. You can use this information to prepare for a conversation with the other driver’s insurance company and to help determine if you need to file an insurance claim for damage to your car and any injuries you sustained.

Check for Witness Statements

If witness accounts of the accident are included in the report, you can use this information to challenge the other driver’s version of events. If most witness accounts contradict the other driver’s story, you may want to consider filing a police report against the other driver to explain your version of the events. Electronic reporting tools in many communities allow you to report an accident online. This can streamline the reporting process and result in a more timely resolution of your claim.

Identify Who Was in Charge of Monitoring the Road

If you are involved in an intersection in an accident, you’ll want to read the section detailing the intersection carefully. You’ll want to know if any other drivers were in charge of monitoring the intersection and if any traffic signals were present. If a driver responsible for tracking the intersection failed to do so, they might be held wholly or partially liable for the crash. Intersections without traffic signals are called “uncontrolled” intersections.

Find Out If There May Be Security Footage

If the accident occurred near a business or commercial property, you might consider whether nearby security cameras may have recorded the accident. If they did, you’d want to ask the investigating officer to review the footage as part of the investigation. The footage may also help resolve your claim if it contradicts the other driver’s account of the crash. If the accident occurred in front of your home, you could check to see if your home security system might have recorded the accident. If it did, you could ask for a copy of the footage from your security company.

Conclusion

There’s a lot of information to sort through in any car accident. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be to identify helpful details. If you know how to read a car accident report in Miami, you’ll better understand the circumstances leading to the crash. This will help you identify ways to avoid a similar accident in the future and will help you prepare your insurance claim.