Don’t fail to call the police after an accident. Police play an important role during and after an accident. Thus, call the police as soon as possible. The police are tasked with ensuring that everybody involved at the scene is safe. He/she will arrange for first aid care. Still more, the police will assess the situation before writing an accident crash report.
Remember, any accident report Austin TX must be signed and certified by the police. He/she will document the events at the scene of the accident. The following are the top roles of the police at the accident scene.
Role of police at the accident scene
Documentation
One of the key roles of the police is to document the accident. Once they arrive at the scene, they’ll collect important information from both drivers and record the findings on their report.
They’ll record the location, witness statements, both drivers’ contact details, insurance details, vehicle descriptions, as well as, the accident description. If necessary, they might issue the drivers with citations.
A citation can be used to prove a driver’s negligence. However, this won’t deny you the right to recover compensation. To be on the safe side, request a copy of the accident report. This will help your attorney file a tangible case against the other party. Plus, it’ll help you devise an effective strategy to recover the highest amount of money from the other driver’s insurance company.
Directing traffic
It’s also the responsibility of the police to direct traffic at the accident scene. After a car crash, the road will be completely blocked. And this can heighten the risk of secondary accidents occurring. Police officers will redirect traffic to ensure a smooth flow of vehicles.
Cleaning up the mess
Broken glass and debris should be removed from the roadway immediately. Such materials can damage other automobiles and cause further wrecks. The police officers will contact road crews to clear up the mess after the crash.
Taking pictures
At times, the police might take pictures of the accident scene, as well as, the automobiles involved. They might also photograph the license numbers and road signs. But even if they do so, be sure to take your photos as well. This evidence could be very helpful when filing a personal injury claim.
Sobriety tests
If the police believe that a driver was drunk at the time of the crash, they might perform field sobriety tests. Alternatively, they can transport them to a nearby healthcare facility to get a blood test done. In case it’s established that they’re drunk, they’ll be arrested.
Court representation
On certain occasions, the responding police officer might be asked to appear in court as a witness. They can be very helpful in elaborating on the details of the accident report.
The bottom-line
Calling the police to the accident scene is an important step towards safeguarding evidence. Besides ensuring that all victims are safe, the police will document the details of the accident. He/she will write a report that gives a detailed account of how the accident occurred. Part of his/her work is to interview eyewitnesses and record details of the parties involved. Thus, be sure to call the police. The above are the top roles of police at the scene of the accident.
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