After a car accident in Albuquerque, things can get overwhelming for the victims. If you are in one accident, you may be sustaining serious injuries and car damage as well as worrying about your financial future. It’s important that you take steps to find help including calling law enforcement and filing an accident report. Also, you must get in touch with a Caruso Law Offices, P.C. car accident attorney to know your legal options.
What You Need When You File a Police Report
When you call 911 following a car accident, you establish a record of you getting emergency medical care. Also, calling the police to report the accident is required by law. Under New Mexico law, a car accident must be reported when it caused bodily harm or death to a minimum of one person and it leads to property damage worth at least $500.
If the accident happened within municipality borders, you must report it to the appropriate police department. But if it took place beyond a municipality, you must report it to the county sheriff officer or the nearest police department.
It is important to report the car accident right away through the quickest way of communication. Often, this includes contacting 911; however, if you don’t contact 911 at the crash scene, go to a police station to file a report in person. Additionally, a written accident report must also be filed with the New Mexico Department of Transportation within 5 days of the accident.
Getting a Copy of the Police Report
To get a copy of the official police report, you will usually have to call the police station that made the report, fill out a record request form, and pay a fee. If you have been in an Albuquerque car accident, you can get a copy of the report by going to the Law Enforcement Center in person. Also, you can download your report online through a report management system. Make sure to keep several copies of the police report for your crash claim.
Importance of the Police Report to Your Claim
Although getting a copy of your police report can seem difficult, it’s important to secure compensation for the injuries and losses you suffered. A police report will offer valuable evidence for your claim. It can give an official account of what happened before, during, and after the car accident, offer a neutral view of the way the crash took place, document the property damage suffered, and establish a record of any criminal behavior that happened during the crash.
