One common concern after a car accident is securing a copy of the police accident report. This document is usually made available within a few weeks of the collision and provides extensive information about the accident.
You’ll learn what contributing factors the responding officer identified, as well as what injuries and property damage occurred.
The insurance company or companies will also peruse the accident report, seeking signs of fault. For multiple reasons, an insurance adjuster’s interpretation of a police report can sometimes be detrimental to the injured party.
If you want to receive the best settlement possible in your case, we recommend discussing your police department car accident report with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law is available to provide a free, confidential consultation about your car accident case. We’ll read the report, answer your questions, and advise you of the options for recovering compensation.
There is no obligation, but if we take your case, we work on a contingency basis, which means you won’t owe us anything until we win or settle your case.
Request Your Huron Police Department Car Accident Report Online, By Fax, Or In Person
First, you will need the incident number, date, time, and location of your accident. You should be able to find this information on the paper provided by the responding officer at the scene.
The Huron Police Department is located at:
17051 12th Street
Huron, CA 93234
You can visit in person to request your accident report. The Records department will ask you to fill out a form with the information mentioned above and will also inquire about your involvement in the collision.
Under California law, only people with a right or need to know will receive a copy of an accident report. In most cases, you can receive a copy if you are one of the following:
- A driver
- A passenger
- Anyone injured in the crash (including pedestrians or bicyclists)
- The owner of damaged property, like a vehicle or building
- A witness
- The reporting party
- The parent or legal guardian of a minor involved in the crash
- A representative for one of the above parties
You can also fax your request to (559) 945-6411 or call (559) 945-2348 for more information on requesting a report online.
What if I Think the Police Report Is Wrong?
This is not unusual, and there are several common reasons why an injured person might believe the police report is incorrect:
- The report draws an incorrect conclusion. The responding officer does their best to find the truth about what happened in a car accident, but they sometimes have to contend with conflicting accounts from the involved parties. There may also be a lack of clear evidence at the scene. As a result, it’s possible they may not always reach the right conclusion despite their best efforts.
- The reader misunderstood the report. Police reports can be confusing to anyone who is not in the habit of regularly reading them. Sometimes, it helps to review the report with a legal expert who can answer your questions and clear up any misunderstanding.
- Both parties have some fault. There’s a common misconception that one driver is always responsible for an accident, but in reality, many accidents are caused by both drivers. Often, an injured person thinks the report is wrong because the other driver was entirely at fault, but that isn’t always the case.
A seasoned car Fresno accident attorney can help you with these and other concerns you might have about the police report. In many situations, we can still find a way to recover some or all of your damages.
What if You Are Partially at Fault for an Accident?
California law does not prohibit an injured party from recovering damages because they also contributed to the collision—you will simply lose your share of the damages. So, if you are 20 percent responsible, you could still recover 80 percent of your damages.
The biggest issue with shared-fault accidents is ensuring your portion of responsibility is estimated accurately. Frequently, we find that the insurance adjuster has exaggerated the injured party’s contributions, thus reducing their settlement more than necessary.
In other situations, the adjuster might attribute some blame to the injured party, but they actually did nothing wrong. Both situations can result in a much smaller settlement than you deserve.
People who handle their own insurance claims may not know their fault was inflated and could accept an offer that’s too low. For this reason, engaging the services of a personal injury attorney can be very beneficial.
Your lawyer will evaluate the evidence, investigate further if needed, and negotiate with the insurance carrier for a fair evaluation of your contributions.
What Is the Next Step You Should Take in Your Car Accident Case?
At Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law, our seasoned legal team stands ready to provide a thorough evaluation of your auto accident case completely free of charge. We prioritize addressing any concerns arising from your police report, assisting you in accurately assessing the value of your claim, and relentlessly pursuing the best possible resolution.
Should you choose to proceed with our support, we operate on a contingency fee basis, ensuring you only pay when we successfully secure a settlement on your behalf. We’ll also take on the responsibility of handling all negotiations, sparing you the hassle of dealing with insurance adjusters when you’re focused on recovering from your injuries.
In recent news, Deepak Ahluwalia, the founder and managing partner of Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law, has been recognized as one of the American Bar Association’s Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers. His exceptional accomplishments have earned him widespread recognition from esteemed national media outlets, including NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, BBC, Vice News, and CNN.
Committed to providing unparalleled legal representation to those in need, his foremost objective remains to achieve the best possible outcomes for his clients, a commitment he steadfastly upholds. Work with Attorney Deepak Ahluwalia when you call (559) 878-4958.
