How to Get a Car Accident Report in Lake Charles
If you’ve been in a car accident in Lake Charles, you can get a police report from the police department in person, by mail, or online. A car accident report is an important piece of evidence that your lawyer can use later on in your case.
At Laborde Earles, our team has over 250 years of combined personal injury experience, and with it, we can help maximize the strength of your car accident case. Our Lake Charles car accident lawyers explain how to get a car accident report in Lake Charles and how it benefits your case.
How to Get a Lake Charles Car Accident Report
In Lake Charles, you have three options to obtain a car accident report. You can either pick up your car accident report in person, get it by mail, or get it from the online portal. Here’s what you need to know about each method:
In-Person
You can pick up your crash report at the Lake Charles Police Headquarters, located at 830 Enterprise Blvd, Lake Charles, LA 70601. The building is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To receive the report, you must be the person who was in the accident or associated with the injured person’s insurance.
When you pick up your police report, make sure you have your valid Louisiana picture ID. It costs $7.50 per report, and the police department only accepts payment by money order or business check. When writing your check or money order, it must be payable to the City of Lake Charles.
By Mail
If you request your Lake Charles car accident report via mail, you must send your payment of $7.50 to Traffic Records, 830 Enterprise Blvd, Lake Charles, LA 70601. Your envelope must be addressed and stamped. In place of an address, you can provide a return email address.
Online
If you’d like to get your Lake Charles car accident report online, you can access it through LexisNexis Crash Reports. You can pay with any major credit or debit card. There is a 50-cent processing fee that will be added to your payment.
Make sure to select Louisiana for the state and then the Lake Charles Police Department for the Jurisdiction. The platform will then request the following information:
- Report number or last name of driver
- Report date
- Street name where the crash occurred
What Information does a Car Accident Report Have?
A car accident report compiled by responding law enforcement contains key details about the crash. Information typically included in the report involves:
- Date, time, and location of the accident. The exact address or intersection provides critical context.
- Road conditions like weather, visibility, and whether the road was wet or icy.
- Vehicle details for all involved cars, including make, model, year, license plate, and damage descriptions. Photos are often attached.
- The name, address, and insurance information for each driver and passenger are used to assign fault properly.
- Accounts of the accident from all sides, including how it occurred, based on evidence and driver and witness statements.
- Details of any injuries, medical treatment, or airbag deployment from EMS on the scene.
- Citation information if one of the drivers was found at-fault and ticketed for violations like speeding, running a red light etc.
- Contact information for all witnesses who saw events leading up to or at the time of the collision.
Making a claim without a car accident report can be difficult because you’ll be missing essential information. So, it’s in your best interest to get a car accident report for your Lake Charles crash.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You With a Police Report?
Hiring a car accident lawyer from Laborde Earles can provide important benefits when dealing with the police report from your crash. Our car accident attorneys in Lake Charles can help you with your police report in the following ways:
- We can review the report for any inaccuracies or omissions and work with law enforcement to correct the official document if needed.
- Explain how these reports can impact your insurance claim and legal case.
- If you were cited or the report found you at fault, a lawyer can fight this determination and negotiate to have violations or citations dismissed.
- We may request an additional investigation if details are missing from the initial responding officer’s report. New evidence could change liability assignments.
- During settlement or if a lawsuit occurs, your lawyer can use the report strategically to argue your side of events, challenge others’ statements, and maximize the value of your claim.
- Representation helps ensure you understand all legal implications of the police findings and don’t make any statements during the claims process that undermine your case.
How Can Having a Police Report Increase Your Compensation?
A police report from the accident scene can significantly help your case when filing an insurance claim or pursuing financial damages through legal action. The level of detail provided in an official report gives your claim more validity and strength.
Insurance companies evaluate liability and damages partly based on the findings of the police report. If the company determines the other driver was at fault, this establishes you have a legitimate claim right away. It also helps negate arguments the company may try to use against you.
The report documents evidence like skid marks, debris fields, and witness statements that were collected impartially by law enforcement. This contemporary evidence carries more weight than conflicting testimony obtained later. It makes it harder for the at-fault party to deny they caused the accident. Having a police report as evidence could help you collect more in damages for losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Physical therapy
- Vehicle repairs
Learn More About Obtaining an Accident Report in Lake Charles
At Laborde Earles, our team can help you understand your car accident report and use it to strengthen your case. Our team can answer any questions you have in a free consultation.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our car accident lawyers.
