If you have been injured in an accident involving a commercial truck, your ability to recover damages relies on establishing the negligence of the driver and/or the trucking company.
As every Houston commercial accident lawyer would agree, one definitive element in determining who was at fault in a truck accident is the police report filed after the crash. If you are not sure how to do this, contact an experienced truck accident attorney who can help you get an official copy of the report and make sure that all the information is accurate.
How to Obtain Your Truck Accident Police Report
The process of obtaining a physical copy of a police report depends on the jurisdiction. Based on your location, you may be able to get it in-person or via mail. In most cases, you will need to first provide some information to access the report, such as:
- The location of the accident
- The date of the accident
- The name of a person(s) involved in the accident
Since each jurisdiction has its own process for providing a copy of the report, it’s best to contact the police department where the accident occurred to find out how to get yours. For example, if you are based in Houston, you can buy a copy of the report through an online service. But if you are in Dallas, you can only request a copy in-person or through mail.
If your Houston commercial accident lawyer knows that an accident report was filed with the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT), they can make a request online and receive it immediately for a nominal fee. The DOT holds onto the vehicle accident reports for ten years. Your attorney can acquire a copy of your police report on your behalf as soon as it is available.
Why Work with a Houston Commercial Accident Lawyer?
Police reports can be complicated to read; they may contain codes and language that you are not familiar with. Sometimes, they are not even accurate. A Houston commercial accident lawyer can help decode your report and evaluate it for accuracy to ensure that the details included explain what really happened.
If you notice any inaccuracies in the police report, your Houston commercial accident lawyer can get the original report altered to show the necessary corrections.
In some cases, instead of having the original officer make changes to the report, the attorney can provide a written supplement sheet that corrects the errors. This way is actually faster and more efficient. If you were to contact the original police officer and request them to change the report, it can take a lot of time.
Depending on how skilled and well-funded your Houston commercial accident lawyer is, they can also conduct an independent investigation of your crash to make sure the police report is 100% accurate. This may include getting the help of an accident reconstruction expert and reaching out to witnesses.
Need Help With Filing Your Vehicle Accident Claim in Texas? Contact Kirk Law Firm For A Free Consultation
If you or your loved one have been involved in a car/truck accident in Texas, and need help understanding or changing your accident report, it’s time to call Kirk Law Firm, PLLC.
Our team of dedicated lawyers, headed by Dana G. Kirk, has extensive experience with crash reports. If your report is not accurate, we will work to modify the report to protect your rights.
To schedule a free consultation or learn more about our track record of success, contact us today.
