Cole, Cole, Easley, and Sciba Trial Attorneys can help you through the aftermath of a car accident in Victoria. While every car accident is different, a few things stay the same from collision to collision—like getting an accident report from the Victoria Police Department (VPD). Our team of Victoria car accident lawyers can help you understand how you get one of these reports and what they tell you. Set up a free consultation today.
How Do I Get an Accident Report After a Car Accident in Victoria TX?
Car accidents are an unfortunate part of living here in Victoria. But the fact remains that when one happens to you, one of the first things you should do is call 911 so they can send the VPD to the scene.
And once an officer arrives, one of the things they have to do is create an accident report. This lays out the basic details of what happened and usually includes things like:
- What the responding officer observed
- Statements from drivers, passengers, and witnesses
- Road and weather conditions at the time of the collision
- A diagram showing where the vehicles came to rest
- Preliminary information about contributing factors, tickets given, or possible fault
So with a report created, the next step is getting it. In Texas, accident reports are generally available through the Texas Crash Records Information System (CRIS). Another way of getting your report is going directly to the VPD’s Records Section located at:
Victoria Police Department
Records Section
City Hall Building
105 W Juan Linn Street
Victoria, TX 77901
Phone: (361) 485-3700
https://www.victoriatx.org/1332/Police-Department
When you visit that office, you’ll typically need basic information about the accident, and pay a small fee before you get a copy. But once you get that, you have what could be the official document connected to the collision.
Why an Accident Report Matters After Your Car Accident
Getting your copy of the accident report is going to be an important step after your car accident, but not necessarily for the reason you might think. Yes, it gives certain details of your accident, which can be important for getting a better idea of what happened.
That matters after your car accident because, eventually an insurance company is going to get involved and question your side of events.
Possibly the biggest hurdle that you’ll have when you go to file a claim is establishing what’s called “liability.” That’s just the legal word for fault for the accident. Importantly, though, the accident report isn’t the only thing that establishes fault. It takes a full picture of the accident.
What Else Can Help Me in a Car Accident Claim?
Car accidents vary a lot in Victoria. There’s rear-end collisions on Navarro Street, sideswipes on Loop 463, and various others that happen every day here. But no matter how common they are, it’s very different if you’re the one involved and injured.
So while an accident report can be important, it’s far from the only thing you’ll need. And in fact, most of what you need can be gotten right there at the scene. Here’s what you should focus on:
Your own pictures/videos of the scene that document:
- Damage to all vehicles involved
- Where each car ended up
- Skid marks, debris, or spills
- Traffic lights, stop signs, or road signs
- Lane markings and roadway conditions
- Weather and visibility conditions
- Any visible injuries
The idea is to try to preserve what the aftermath looked like right after the collision. Those kinds of details can evaporate quickly once vehicles are moved and traffic opens back up.
- Witness information. You’ll also want to get contact information from any witnesses or bystanders that saw the collision. They can provide a third-person look at the accident, and can back up your version of events if the other driver changes their story.
- Camera footage. These days, there’s cameras everywhere in Victoria. Whether it’s a nearby business’ security camera, a traffic camera at an intersection or even your own dashcam, there’s likely footage of the collision. We can help you get this video footage and can help you understand it. Sometimes, it even gives a clean picture of the whole accident.
- Medical records. In the hours, days and weeks after the accident, your medical records are going to be extremely important. Not only will that show your injuries and your treatment, but it’s also important for the timeline. Records tie your injuries to the actual collision.
- Bills and receipts. Every car accident brings out-of-pocket costs like rental car fees, towing fees, car repairs, and other things. That can be factored into your claim and what you can get when you file.
- Journals and notes. One thing a lot of people overlook is their own experience. Keeping a journal or notes of your pain, how your injuries are limiting you day-to-day, how your relationships have changed, work you’ve missed, even emotional and sleep challenges can show the full impact the accident has had on you.
If you weren’t able to gather all of this information at the scene, that’s completely normal. A lot of people are focused on the right things: calling 911, getting medical care, and then getting home. But the fact remains that this evidence and information is important, and when you couple it with the accident report, you’ll have the bedrock of a claim. Remember, you don’t have to try to get all of this yourself—our Victoria car accident team will be there to support you.
Get Help After a Car Accident in Victoria
After a car accident in Victoria, many people find themselves dealing with a lot more than just damage to their car. There can be a long road to recovery, winding through doctor’s appointments, treatment, surgeries, missed work, and changes to their everyday life.
But again, it’s different when it happens to you. And that’s where our team of Victoria car accident lawyers at Cole, Cole, Easley, and Sciba will step in and help you by:
- Getting your accident report, along with other supporting evidence
- Handling all the talks with insurance companies
- Figuring out who may be legally responsible for your damages
- Guiding you through an insurance claim, or a personal injury lawsuit if the insurance company won’t deal fairly
No matter where or how your car accident happened, we give you the space to focus on your health and family. If you’ve been in a car accident in Victoria and have questions, reach out today for a free consultation.
