Information recording is a must for every accident or incident in your life, from a motor vehicle crash to incidents with your neighbors. In all cases, there are different types of information that could be gathered as you work your way through the situation. You have the right to know about and obtain several pieces of information that law enforcement does not want you to know about or does not want you to know you can request. Some of this information can be vital to assisting you make insurance claims or talking to your attorney.
“Some of this information can be vital to assisting you make insurance claims or talking to your attorney.”
In all incidents (reports involving people or places) and accidents (motor vehicle-related reports), you will want to gather basic information such as:
If dealing with truck and trailer combination (18 wheelers) both the truck and trailer will have separate license plate numbers as well as VIN numbers. You will also want to write down the Texas Department of Transportation numbers (TXDOT #) found on truck tractor (18 wheeler cabs). This number can link the truck with a company if a company name is not located on the vehicle.
Some of this information you may think you can remember in your head, but it is always a good practice to write it down because memories can fade over time. Also, Officer’s reports can contain mistakes, and writing down the information can also assist you in starting any legal process that you need to start moving on. Delays might be caused if you depend on the Officer’s reports alone as most law enforcement agencies have policies allowing them up to 10 days to complete motor vehicle reports, and possibly longer for incident reports. The records request process alone could take several days.
“It is always a good practice to write it down because memories can fade over time.”
After the incident/accident there is sometimes information that law enforcement agencies do not want you, the general public, to know that you can request. Now in the age of computers and cameras, everything an officer and dispatch does or says can be recorded. With knowing this, you should also know that you can request through the open records act copies of all video from body and patrol car cameras, all audio between the officer and dispatch, any written records that the officer and dispatch make, and any 911 phone calls that were made in reference to the incident.
“This information can be useful if you are considering talking to or hiring an attorney.”
This information can be useful if you are considering talking to or hiring an attorney.
If you choose to hire an attorney, this information can assist you, the attorney, and their paralegal or assistant in every step of your case. Paralegals and legal assistants can be, and most of the time are, the middle-man between you and your attorney. Every detail can make a difference whether it is just reviewing your case or taking you as a client.
Erin Landrum, Paralegal
Eagle Ford Office
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The post From the Paralegal’s Desk: “I Just Had an Accident. What Information Should I Record?” appeared first on Bethune Enright, PLLC.
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