Stephen T. Kopko of Cummins Law. Courtesy photo.
In many motor vehicle accident negligence cases, the police officer’s investigation, and subsequent report, can become a crucial piece of evidence in determining the fault of a party in an accident. The police report normally contains the statements of the parties and witnesses involved in the accident and a diagram of how the accident may have occurred. The police officer also may list his assessment of the cause of the accident in the police report.
This information can be of important use in determining the liability of the plaintiff or defendant in an accident, the severity of the collision and the severity of the plaintiff’s alleged injuries from the accident. However, the ability to use the actual report as evidence during trial differs depending on whether the case is being tried in state or federal court.
