John W. Redmann | February 19, 2025 | Car Accidents
Yes, you can file a claim without a police report in Louisiana. There is no state law that would prevent you from filing your claim without a police report. However, Louisiana law does require you to report most car accidents to the local or state police. Plus, proving your claim without a police report might be difficult, so it is best to always report your crash to the police and include the police report with your claim.
When Must I Report My Accident to the Police in Louisiana?
Most car accidents need to be reported to the police in Louisiana. In fact, that is the law. According to Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 32, § 398.10, a car crash must be reported when:
- More than $500 worth of property damage occurs
- The crash results in an injury to a person
- The crash results in a death
In some cases, it can be difficult to determine the value of the damage done to the vehicles. You might not know exactly how much damage is done until you can get your car to a repair facility and have an expert assess the damage.
Similarly, not all injuries resulting from a crash are immediately apparent. Your adrenaline is usually pumping right after a crash, and that can mask some types of injuries. You may think you feel fine at the scene, but you may find yourself in severe pain a few hours after the accident or even the next day.
For these reasons, you should always err on the side of caution and report your accident to the police. Accidents may be reported to the local municipal police, the sheriff’s office, or the state police station, depending on where the accident occurred. Most people choose to simply call 911 so that the operator can determine the appropriate entity to respond to the crash.
What Information is Included on a Police Accident Report?
A police report from your accident will contain a lot of relevant information about the crash. The police will typically conduct a short investigation of the accident, and the information they uncover will be included in the report. Some common information found in the police report includes:
- Names and contact information for all parties involved in the accident
- Details about the accident, such as the date, time, and location of the crash
- Vehicle information, such as the year, make, model, VIN, and color of all vehicles in the accident
- Insurance information for both vehicles
- A statement from the officer about any road or weather conditions that may have led to the crash
- A statement from the officer about how the crash likely occurred
- Contact information for any eyewitnesses who saw the accident
In some cases, a citation may have been issued after the accident. This information can be crucial to proving your personal injury claim. The police report may also contain diagrams or sketches from the officer that help explain important details about the accident.
Although the police report is not the only determining factor when it comes to assigning liability, it can be a great piece of evidence used to prove your claim. Without a police report, you may have a harder time proving that the other driver was at fault, especially if you need to file a personal injury lawsuit.
How an Accident Report Can Help With Your Personal Injury Claim
As mentioned above, the police report can be an extremely useful piece of evidence when putting together your claim. You or your attorney may request a copy of the police report by contacting the agency who created the report. This document is often the starting point for many personal injury claims.
In addition to the police report, your attorney will most likely conduct their own independent investigation of the crash. This will be done to collect and gather evidence that might not have been included in the police report. Together, the police report and other evidence can help tell your story and put together a complete picture of how the accident occurred. If you have been hurt in an accident in Metairie, LA, you should seek the help of an experienced lawyer who can help you through the claims process.
Contact the Car Accident Lawyers of The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC for Help Today
If you were injured in an accident in Metairie or Gretna, Louisiana, and need legal help, contact our car accident attorneys at The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC, to schedule a free case review today.
We serve Jefferson Parish County and Louisiana’s surrounding Areas
The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC – Metairie, LA Office
2901 N Causeway Blvd, STE 202
Metairie, LA, 70002
(504) 500-5000
The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC – Gretna, LA Office
