When you experience a car accident, a copy of the police report can help you answer questions and prepare to seek compensation for your damages. You’ll be able to see what “contributing factors” the responding officer noted and review the report for accuracy.
If you have questions or concerns about your police report, an experienced car accident attorney can help you learn more.
Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law offers free consultations to anyone who has suffered a car accident or other personal injury. We’ll review the report and outline your options for recovering damages.
There is no obligation, but if you want to move forward with our help, we won’t charge you anything until we successfully resolve your case, so please contact us today for more information.
Request Your Orange Cove Police Department Car Accident Report By Fax
The Orange Cove Police Department accepts requests for car accident reports by fax at (559) 626-7565. You should include your name and contact info so they can get in touch with you about the $15 fee for the report.
It’s also helpful to state the date, time, and location of the accident and your involvement in it. California allows the release of accident reports to individuals with a right or need to know.
In car accident cases, that usually means:
- A driver
- A passenger
- Anyone injured in the collision (including non-motorists, like pedestrians or bicyclists)
- Owners of any damaged property
- A witness
- The reporting party
- The parent or legal guardian of a minor involved in the accident
- A representative for one of the above parties
Once the request and payment are received, the report should be mailed within ten business days.
What if I Don’t Have Access to a Fax Machine?
Sometimes, libraries have a fax machine the public can use for a small fee. If not, office supply stores and print shops frequently offer fax services as well.
What Should I Look for on My Car Accident Report?
The first page typically contains biographical information about the drivers, including contact info and insurance policy numbers. You should quickly review this info to ensure it’s correct before moving on to the next page.
On page two, the officer notes “contributing factors” for the accident. These can be environmental, like poor weather or road issues, but there are also a number of factors the officer may attribute to a driver—speeding, distracted driving, going against a traffic signal, etc.
Although it’s not the officer’s job to determine fault, the insurance adjuster who reviews your claim will probably use this section for indicators of fault.
It’s not unusual for clients to tell us they disagree with something in this section. If you believe the officer has mistakenly attributed a factor to you, it’s definitely a good idea to discuss the issue with your lawyer. In some cases, we may be able to find evidence supporting your claim and challenge the police report.
However, it’s important to understand that having some fault in an accident does not bar you from recovery in many situations. California recognizes pure comparative negligence rules for personal injury cases like car accidents.
That means if you are partially at fault, you can still recover the other party’s share of your damages. For example, if you were 35 percent at fault, you could recover 65 percent of your losses from the other driver’s insurance.
This means even if we can’t find evidence that you are completely blameless, we may still be able to recover a significant amount in your case.
Who Decides How Much Fault You Have?
One or more insurance adjusters will make this determination. If you file a claim on the other driver’s insurance policy, the insurance company will assign an adjuster to study the police report and other evidence.
They will then decide how much fault each driver had and apply this percentage to your final settlement.
If the other driver also files a claim on your insurance, your insurance company will assign an adjuster to review the claim. If you both happen to have the same insurance company, separate adjusters will be assigned to evaluate the claims independently.
Often, adjusters from two different companies will negotiate with each other until they agree on a share of fault for each party.
In either situation, you’re at the mercy of an insurance adjuster who is looking for any way to save the company money. Often, an adjuster may overestimate one party’s percentage of responsibility, resulting in a smaller settlement for that person.
Unfortunately, it can be hard for the claimant to know if their contributions were fairly estimated as they may not have the necessary knowledge to calculate their own fault. In these cases, the injured person may lose a substantial portion of their final settlement due to a miscalculation.
This is one of many reasons why a seasoned personal injured lawyer can help with your case. We’ll gather as much evidence as possible and determine a fair estimate of your contributions to the collision (if any).
Should the insurance adjuster’s estimate overreach, we’ll negotiate with them for a more accurate evaluation.
How Can You Get Help With Your Car Accident Case?
At Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law, our experienced team of Fresno car accident lawyers are available to provide an in-depth evaluation of your auto accident case free of charge. We pledge to tackle any issues related to your police report, assist you in accurately valuing your claim, and vigorously pursue the most beneficial resolution.
Should you choose to proceed with our support, we operate on a contingency basis, ensuring you won’t face any fees until we successfully secure a settlement on your behalf. We’ll also handle all negotiations, relieving you of the hassle of dealing with insurance adjusters.
Deepak Ahluwalia, 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 outstanding accomplishments have received widespread recognition from esteemed national media outlets, including NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, BBC, Vice News, and CNN.
His primary objective has always been to achieve the best possible results for his clients, and he works every day to ensure high-quality legal representation for those most in need. Work with his expert team today when you call (559) 878-4958.
