If you get into a car crash in Nevada, a law enforcement officer will investigate the accident and write a traffic accident report. The insurance company relies on the report to help determine the at-fault party before approving a claim.
A car accident report’s information can help your attorney pursue compensation for a denied claim or bring a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and their insurer. Understanding the report’s contents and how it impacts your case is essential.
If you need help interpreting your Nevada car accident report or if you need an experienced attorney to manage your case, Nevada Accident Injury Lawyers are here to help. We’ll handle determining liability and negotiating your claim, so you get ample time to rest and recuperate.
Can a Car Accident Report Impact a Claim?
How the officer investigating the accident completes the accident report can impact the success of your claim. Police reports are persuasive in personal injury cases and are integral evidence in a successful auto insurance claim.
Although a car accident report is typically an accurate assessment of an accident, police officers aren’t always correct. Your report could contain errors or miss crucial details. Once you obtain the report, take time to review it for accuracy.
How to Read Your Nevada Car Accident Report
The following are the different sections of the Nevada car accident report:
Vehicle information sheet
The vehicle information sheet contains the identifying numbers issued by the responding officer. These include the event number, accident number, and agency name. The numbers are generally used for identification purposes by the department handling your case.
The vehicle information sheet also contains the following sub-sections:
- The vehicle action: This section describes the responding officer’s description of the accident scene. It also captures the officer’s statement as to who is at-fault based on their investigation.
- The driver’s details: This section captures all information about the driver, including their license number and contact number. If a sobriety test was done, this sheet provides the test results.
- Vehicle information: This section provides all the crucial information about the vehicle, including the make, model, license plate, VIN, insurance information, and any damage the investigator sees. Beyond that, it describes actions made by the driver which could have contributed to the accident.
Scene information sheet
This section contains information about the scene of the accident. It captures the date, time, and location of the crash. It also mentions the weather conditions, roadway conditions, and lighting conditions. Other details captured in this section include:
- Non-vehicle damage such as damage to property
- Investigator’s written narrative
- A diagram of the accident showing the position of each vehicle
Non-motorist information sheet
This sheet is only used if the crash involved a non-motorist such as a bicycle, pedestrian, or off-road vehicle. The non-motorist information sheet has the same information as the vehicle information sheet, save for a few additional sections. These are:
- Non-motorist condition section: As the name suggests, this section describes the non-motorists condition, including whether they were intoxicated at the time of the accident. The section captures crucial factors that may have contributed to the accident, including lack of safety equipment, failure to yield right-of-way, lack of reflective clothing, and more.
- Roadway conditions: The roadway conditions section describes the condition of the road during the time of the crash. It focuses on the design of the road, including whether there is a bike lane or walking path, pedestrian crossings, and more.
Witness/occupant supplement sheet
The responding officers use this sheet if the crash vehicles had additional occupants such as passengers. It is also used if there are other witnesses and any other person of interest, including the owners of the damaged vehicle.
How to Obtain a Car Accident Report in Nevada
To obtain a copy of the accident report, make a formal request at the local law enforcement office that drafted the report. Before leaving the scene of the accident, the responding officer will hand you a receipt containing the identification number of the report. Use that number when requesting a copy of the report.
How to Review the Information in an Accident Report
After obtaining a copy of the report, carefully review its contents to ensure they match your recollection of the accident. The law enforcement officer investigating the accidents can make mistakes that wind up being costly to you.
If you have your own evidence of the accident, such as photos, videos, or witness statements, compare them against the details captured by the officer. Additionally, review the narrative for any details that were left out.
Can I Contact the Reviewing Officer?
After obtaining the accident report, your attorney may want to contact the officer or subpoena them. You will find information about the reviewing officer at the bottom of all the pages of a car accident report. These include:
- The officer’s name
- Officer’s ID number/ badge number
- Date of the report
- Date of the review
How Much Does a Crash Report Cost in Nevada?
According to Nevada law, a person wishing to obtain a public record should not incur a cost above the original cost to produce the record. You can expect to pay not more than $15 to obtain a car accident report in Nevada.
However, this price only covers the cost of printing and mailing the report. You will pay additional fees for any additional copies you make.
Contact Nevada Accident Injury Lawyers Today to Review Your Car Accident Case
As mentioned earlier, a Nevada car accident report can make or break your claim. You must ensure the report’s contents accurately capture all the details of the accident.
The experienced car accident attorneys at Nevada Accident Injury Law can help act upon the information contained in the collision report. Our goal is to help you get the maximum possible compensation that will cover your expenses after a crash.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.