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According to the law, someone that has become involved in a car accident must remain at the scene of that same collision and report that same incident to the police. Later, the reporting driver can get a copy of the information that has been entered in the police record. That copy should be available at the nearby police station. Details on getting hold of such a copy will be offered in another section of this article.
Why would you want such a report?
Your insurance company may ask to see it. The insurer will want to be sure that any claim that the policy holder should be held liable has been substantiated by an officer of the law. If you need a lawyer, that expert on the law will want to study the report’s contents. You may want to see if it agrees with what has been stated in the medical report on your injuries.
What information must be shared with the law enforcement officers that come to an accident site?
• Give them the date and time of the collision.
• Give them the names of the people involved.
• Give them the names for any witnesses, if there were any.
Answers to questions often asked about the driver’s ability to obtain a copy of what a law enforcement officer has reported, regarding a particular accident.
Will I have to pay, in order to obtain such a copy? You will probably be asked to pay a small fee.
Do I need a lawyer in order to obtain that document (police report)? You do not need a lawyer just to walk into police headquarters and ask for an accident report. You many need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Hamilton, if you must file a claim, or if the other driver says that your negligence caused 2 or more vehicles to collide.
Consequences of failing to remain at the scene and speak with an arriving officer of the law:
If property has been damaged, you must pay a fine of $1,000, and you could face jail time. If someone has been injured, you can expect to pay compensation, and you will almost certainly face jail time. If someone has suffered a potentially fatal injury, then you could have other, more worrisome things to think about. If someone has been killed, you will most definitely be charged with a felony.
An exception can be made to the driver’s responsibility to remain at the scene. That is when the driver became incapacitated, because 2 or more vehicles collided on the road. This holds true, when it has become obvious that the driver’s safety would be compromised if he or she were to stay at the spot where the collision took place.