How Do Police Investigations of Fatal Car Accidents Work?

How Do Police Investigations of Fatal Car Accidents Work?

Every day we drop our children off at school or drive to work without imagining that in the blink of an eye, we could experience a tragic accident. With only seconds to react, trouble on the road will happen and that rapid decision we make could determine if we live, take the lives of others, or are fatally injured. Moments like these happen every day on Unites States roadways, particularly with drivers who get distracted by a phone call or lose focus after a long day at work.

If someone you care about has died in a tragic auto collision, you’ll need to submit a police report to the insurance company. This important document is vital to your case, but the process is often complex and not always accurate. Fatal motor vehicle accident investigations require many steps as part of a larger, complex process to reconstruct what happened.

Steps of a Fatal Car Accident Investigation

Every fatal crash has its own unique set of circumstances leading to the loss of life. These differences will vary widely, but there are some standard principles that an investigating officer will follow.

Observation of the Scene

An officer who gets called to the accident scene will make initial observations and speak with everyone involved on-site. He will try to assess how severely hurt the involved parties are and ask medical personnel to document the extent of their injuries.

Interview Drivers and Witnesses

Once the emergency personnel starts assisting victims, law enforcement agents do their best to preserve any fragile evidence and take statements from those involved in the crash and any witnesses who were present.

Document Evidence of the Accident

Actual circumstances of the accident will get noted by the police, including measuring and taking photos of the vehicle. Factors like skid marks, vehicle body damage, the location of the victim’s body, and other important information get noted at this time.

Inspect Vehicle Damage

An in-depth examination of the vehicle is another piece of a fatal motor accident investigation. This step involves measuring the extent of the damage, as well as checking things like the brakes, tire condition, and so forth.

Note Contributing Conditions to the Crash

Every crash has certain variables that contributed to the accident and police must figure these out to reconstruct how it happened. Conditions contributing to fatal motor crashes include:

• Weather
• Traffic
• Speed
• Condition of the car prior to the accident
• Alcohol or drugs

This part is difficult for the average officer to perform and an attorney may consider hiring a professional accident reconstructionist to do this.

Determine Criminality

Law enforcement will try to determine if someone committed criminal acts that may have led to your loved one’s tragic accident.

If someone purposely broke the law and caused a fatal accident, charges are typically more severe with stiffer penalties.

Create a Vehicle Accident Report

Both California and New York requires officers within 10 days after a fatal traffic accident investigation has been completed. This report will contain the names of all parties involved, whether they’re living or deceased, as well as all pertinent data regarding the wreck.

Specific details you can read on a completed report include:

• Date and time the crash occurred
• Vehicle descriptions
• Names of addresses of all parties involved
• The medical services rendered
• Hospital information
• Identifying information of the officer reporting the accident

In addition to this form, any witness information, testimony given by all involved in the accident, as well as photos and retrieved evidence will also be attached.

Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys

The complexity of fatal car accidents is an overwhelming experience for the families of the victims. Dealing with the investigation, trying to arrange for funeral services, and figuring out how to handle grief is too much to bear for many who lose a precious loved one in a tragic crash. Hiring a reputable attorney during this time to represent your lost family member when it comes to legal and insurance issues will help to ease some of the burden during this emotional time.

At The Barnes Firm, our compassionate auto accident lawyers understand that the pain of tragically losing someone can be agonizing and requires time to process. Our firm is here to support you through this devastating loss by taking care of any insurance claims and possible legal issues that arise.

Your family has lost so much because of another’s negligence, and our goal is to help you recover as much as possible. We can assist you in seeking the compensation you deserve because of their irresponsible actions. We will put our BEST lawyers on your case, many of whom have brought our firm recognition in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for the large settlements we have negotiated. Contact us today for a free case evaluation regarding your family member’s fatal accident.

The Barnes Firm (800) 800-0000

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Richard Barnes – President of The Barnes Firm

Richard Barnes: “As President of The Barnes Firm, I have dedicated my career to achieving justice in hundreds of cases for the victims of injuries caused through the fault of others. Additionally, I have been honored to have been elected Best Lawyer and a Super Lawyer”

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