Can I File A Florida Car Accident Claim Without A Police Report?
You got involved in a Florida car accident. You and the other driver agreed to exchange information but not call the police since no one was injured and there was no property damage. A day after your car accident, you started experiencing pain, and now you are treating serious injuries. You also now realize that your vehicle suffered serious damage in the crash. Now that you understand the full extent of your injuries and the damage to your car, you are likely wondering if you can file a car accident claim without a police report.
So, can you file a Florida car accident claim without a police report? Yes, you can still file a Florida car accident claim without a police report. However, there are several downsides that come with filing a car accident claim without a police report.
The Importance of a Police Report in a Car Accident Case
When filing a Florida car accident claim, one of the most significant pieces of evidence you can have is the police report pertaining to your accident. A police report contains a description of your accident. A police report is written by a non-biased third party and includes information gathered from discussions with all the parties involved in the accident. As much as, according to Florida Statute 316.066(4), police reports are not admissible as evidence in court during trial, a police report can play a huge role during negotiations.
Alternative Evidence You Can Use if There Is No Police Report
The good news is that there are several other types of evidence you can use if there is no police report pertaining to your accident. But this means putting in more work. The following are some alternative pieces of evidence you can gather that can help support your claim;
- Witness statements
- Pictures and videos that were taken at the accident scene
- Traffic camera footage
- CCTV footage
- Dash cam footage
Problems That Come With Not Having a Police Report
While you can file a Florida car accident claim without a police report, you will need to do some additional work to prove your claim. Apart from this, your claim may take longer. The insurance company may scrutinize your claim because of the lack of trustworthy information provided in a police report. Additionally, the lack of a police report may result in reduced settlement offers because the insurance company knows no police officer can testify in court about what happened.
However, if you gather enough relevant evidence and present it well, you may be able to remove the issues that come with filing a car accident claim without a police report. A skilled car accident attorney can help with evidence collection and presentation.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you suffered serious injuries and property damage in a Florida car accident and need help filing a car accident claim, contact our Jacksonville personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm. We can help you build a strong case even if there is no police report.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Tampa, Fort Myers, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Naples, and Melbourne areas.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.066.html#:~:text=Except%20as%20specified,civil%20or%20criminal
