To get a police accident report in Belmont, NC, you can mail a crash report request form or submit it in person to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). A small processing fee applies, and the report will be redacted, meaning certain personal information will be omitted to protect the privacy of involved parties.
A car accident lawyer in Belmont can access the unredacted version, though, which is important to have when filing a claim in North Carolina. Due to the state’s “contributory negligence” laws, an insurer can legally refuse to pay you anything if it can prove you contributed to the collision, even as little as 1%.
An attorney uses a police accident report to verify details of the accident and push back against the blame-shifting tactics insurance companies use to try to deny your claim.
Getting a Police Report in North Carolina Is Not Always Simple
Obtaining a police accident report in North Carolina without the help of a Belmont personal injury lawyer will only get you so far. Publicly accessible reports are redacted to remove sensitive details like names, addresses, and contact information in accordance with the Federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.
While this protects privacy, it can limit the usefulness of the report for resolving disputes or building legal cases. If you do choose to request a redacted report, you have to fill out a Crash Report Request Form (TR-67A) and submit a payment of $6.50 in the form of a check or money order made out to the NCDMV.
You have two options for submitting this request form. You can either mail it, with the payment attached, to the address listed on the form or personally deliver it to one of the following department offices:
- Raleigh Central Services/License Plate Agency, located at 4121 New Bern Ave. Raleigh, NC 27616
- Huntersville License Plate Agency, located at 12101 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road Huntersville, NC 28078
Any errors or missing payments can delay processing, which may stretch up to 10 business days via mail.
How Attorneys Use Unredacted Accident Reports to Counter Insurance Company Tactics
After a car accident, insurance companies work to minimize their liability by using details in the police report to dispute your claim. In North Carolina, this can be especially problematic due to contributory negligence laws.
If insurance companies find any room to argue that you were even the slightest bit to blame for the crash, they use this law to deny your entire claim, leaving you with no legal recourse to seek financial recovery.
For example, a truck accident lawyer in Belmont can carefully review the police accident report to:
- Counter unfair fault claims: Attorneys identify details in the report, such as citations or notes about reckless behavior, to show how the other party was responsible for the crash.
- Challenge misinterpretations: Insurers may attempt to twist the facts in the report to assign partial blame to you. A lawyer will compare these findings to additional evidence, like photographs or witness statements, and correct inaccuracies.
- Build a solid case: Using the report and external evidence, lawyers ensure insurance companies cannot unfairly deny or reduce your claim.
With the help of an experienced attorney, these tactics are addressed head-on, increasing the likelihood of recovering compensation.
What Happens if a Crash Report Contains Errors?
If a crash report contains errors, insurance companies may act on them to challenge your ability to recover compensation for your damages. Inaccuracies, such as incorrect details about vehicle positioning, misstated facts about how the accident occurred, or missing citations, can be used by insurance companies to dispute fault and deny your claim outright.
An experienced attorney can identify these mistakes, gather supporting evidence, and work with law enforcement to request an amendment so that the report accurately reflects the facts.
How Soon Should You Hire a Lawyer to Get a Police Accident Report in Belmont, NC?
Hiring a lawyer as quickly as possible after a car accident in Belmont, NC, is one of the smartest steps you can take to protect your rights.
Under N.C.G.S § 1-52, North Carolina law generally allows only three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Delays in obtaining an accurate report or resolving disputes over fault can drain valuable time.
Hiring an attorney immediately after a collision allows them to send spoliation letters and subpoenas early on to preserve evidence, address any inconsistencies within the police report, and protect your claim for compensation.
While building your case, they can track your deadline for taking legal action against a liable party and negotiate a settlement while preparing for a trial if necessary.
Our Belmont Lawyers Are Ready to Start Working on Your Claim
At Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers, our attorneys know how to obtain a police accident report and other evidence to shield your claim from an insurer’s argument that you share fault for the collision.
Our team of attorneys has recovered more than $100 million for injured accident victims, maintaining a 99.5% success rate in personal injury cases.
With our A&A Zero Fee Guarantee™, you can start your case without paying upfront fees, and you pay no attorney fees unless we secure compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
