You can get a copy of your car accident report in Indianapolis through the Indiana State Police’s repository or the local police department that investigated our crash for crash report. This report is crucial for the purposes of your personal injury case, as the details of this report can be used as evidence in your case.
If you choose to obtain a copy of the accident report yourself, you can do so online. We can also help you gather any and all forms of evidence necessary to show that the other driver was negligent.
How to Obtain a Copy of Your Accident Report Online
The Indiana State Police makes accident reports available online, according to the State of Indiana.
You will need to have certain information handy in order to retrieve your copy, such as:
- The state and jurisdiction where your crash occurred
- The date and location of the incident
- Other personal information
Obtaining a Physical Copy
You may also go in person to pick up a copy of your report. According to Indy.gov, you may be charged a fee of $12 for the copy.
To do so, you can visit the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at the following address: 50 N. Alabama St., E100l, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
How Your Accident Report Can Help Your Personal Injury Claim or Lawsuit
Your accident report will likely play an important role in your case. This report may be able to give important details about:
- How the accident happened
- Any tickets issued to the drivers involved
- Descriptions of damages and even a crash diagram
When you move forward with an insurance claim or lawsuit, this information will be important in demonstrating fault for the accident.
If your accident report shows that the other driver was ticketed for speeding, for instance, you may be able to show that this other driver’s negligence caused your accident and injuries.
When Your Accident Report Doesn’t Prove the Other Driver’s Negligence
Sometimes, the police report will not include crucial details about the other driver’s behavior or even their vehicle upkeep that may have contributed to the crash. For instance, a driver could have been distracted just before the accident, yet they weren’t ticketed for texting while driving. Alternatively, their brakes may have failed suddenly, and this factor contributed to your crash.
In situations where another party’s fault isn’t described in the report or they weren’t issued a ticket, we can investigate for other sources of evidence to prove they or another were responsible. We can:
- Seek eyewitness testimony
- Search for footage or photos from traffic cameras
- Inquire with local businesses that may have video footage of the scene
- Work with accident reconstruction analysts
We can work to build a compelling claim to show that someone else owes you payment.
Even if You Were Partially at Fault, You Could Seek Compensation
You may have concerns about how the accident report portrays your level of responsibility for the crash. For instance, you may have been going a few miles over the speed limit when the other driver was impaired behind the wheel.
However, you don’t have to let those concerns stop you from speaking with us and getting advice on your case—and potentially seeking more compensation than you realize. According to IC §34-51-2-6, you are only unable to seek compensation from another negligent driver if you were more at fault than they were.
In other words, Indiana’s contributory fault laws mean that:
- If you are deemed to be between 0 and 50% responsible for the accident, you could still seek a settlement or award.
- Your settlement could be reduced by your percentage of fault for the accident.
Steps You Can Take to Support Your Case Early On
When someone is injured in an accident, the involved drivers are expected to notify the local police or sheriff and an accident report will be made—so hopefully, that step is already taken care of in your case.
Next, you can take many steps to support the success of your case immediately after the accident and in the days and weeks to come.
Consider the following:
Seek Medical Care and Follow Through on any Doctor’s Recommendations
After your accident report, your medical records will be the next most important documentation in your personal injury case. These records will prove the extent of your injuries, and seeking treatment can help you begin the recovery process.
Write Down What Happened in Your Own Words
If for any reason the police report doesn’t contain additional important details about the other driver’s negligence, we can follow up on these details and seek evidence.
Keep a Journal as Evidence
Write down how your injuries are affecting your life. These records can help prove the intangible damages in your case, such as pain and suffering.
Refrain from Making Statements to Any Insurance Companies
If any insurance company starts calling you and asks you to make a recorded statement about the accident, consider leaving this communication to your lawyer. It’s easy to say something that can be used against you later in your case.
Speak Your Lawyer before Accepting a Settlement
We are happy to give you advice on when to accept an offer from an insurance company. If you work with us, we can tell you what a fair offer would look like in your case and can negotiate on your behalf.
Let’s Get to Work on Your Case
At our firm, we can handle every aspect of your case for you, from negotiating a settlement to taking your case to court if necessary. We can help you get a copy of your police report for a car accident in Indianapolis and gather all the other evidence you need for a case. We also work based on contingency fees, meaning you pay nothing upfront to get started with a case.
We want to fight for the compensation you need to get well and move forward after an accident—and our case results speak for themselves.
- In one case, we recovered a high six-figure settlement for a woman facing spinal cord injuries after a car accident.
- In another situation, we obtained another high six-figure amount for a woman with a wrist injury following a crash.
Call Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., to Get Started Today
We are available to speak with you about your case and your questions any time of the week, day or night. Call us today for a free case review at 317-720-3229. You pay us nothing upfront.
