When you are involved in a serious personal injury accident – whether it’s a car accident, slip-and-fall, workplace accident, or any other type of injury – local law enforcement in Waterbury, CT, plays a critical role in the aftermath.
The immediate involvement of a law enforcement agency can have a major impact on the investigation of the accident and the outcome of your personal injury claim. Understanding the role that local police and other law enforcement agencies play in investigating these situations can help you be prepared when it comes time to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Legal Requirements for Reporting an Accident to the Waterbury Police Department
In many states, you are legally required to inform law enforcement of the accident if it involves injury, death, or significant property damage. Failure to do so expediently can result in penalties, including fines and criminal charges.
Under Connecticut statutes, law enforcement officers are required to investigate an accident where there was property damage over $1,000 or an individual was injured or killed.
Reporting the incident ensures that there is an official record – which can serve as essential evidence when filing a personal injury claim.
Waterbury Police Officers' Initial Response to the Accident Scene
After calling 911 to inform law enforcement of the accident, the police will be notified and sent to the scene.
In 2023, the Waterbury police were dispatched for various types of accidents and injuries, including over 4,700 accidents involving motor vehicles.
Typically, when an officer from the Waterbury police department arrives at the scene, he or she will:
- Secure the scene: The top priority of a police officer is to take fast action to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Law enforcement will often secure the area to prevent further harm, redirect traffic if needed, provide aid, and assess whether emergency services are needed.
- Assess the situation: The police will evaluate the scene to determine the severity of the incident. They will check for injuries, gather information from those involved, and decide whether additional resources, such as traffic investigators, are needed.
- Collect basic information: The reporting police officer will collect essential information from all parties involved, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and driver’s licenses.
Collecting Evidence Following an Accident in Waterbury
One of the most important roles of the police in personal injury cases is the collection of evidence.
Gathering evidence may include:
- Photographing the accident site: Officers will take photos of the accident scene. If you were involved in a car accident, this could include vehicle positions, road conditions, traffic signals, and skid marks. These pictures provide an objective record of the scene and could be used later on to support your personal injury claim.
- Documenting property damage: In addition to photographing the scene, the police will document the extent of damage to vehicles and property. This documentation can help establish the force of the impact, which may be relevant in determining the severity of injuries.
- Collecting physical evidence: In car accident cases, the police may collect debris or broken vehicle parts. In other situations, such as slip-and-falls, officers may gather evidence of unsafe conditions, such as the object the accident victim slipped on.
- Interviewing witnesses: Law enforcement officers will act fast to interview witnesses to the accident and gather their observations. These witness statements can provide unbiased accounts of how the accident occurred.
- Creating a police report: One important contribution a police officer makes to a personal injury investigation is a police report. These reports may include detailed descriptions of the accident, including the officer’s observations, witness statements, and any citations issued.
Conducting Impairment Tests
In accidents where it’s suspected the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, officers from the Waterbury police department may administer field sobriety tests or breathalyzer tests. In Connecticut, it is against the law to drive if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 or above.
The results of an impairment test can affect the outcome of a personal injury case. If a driver is found to be under the influence, it helps to establish fault and liability. Since driving under the influence is a crime, it can also lead to criminal charges, which may impact your civil case.
Additionally, the presence of drugs or alcohol in a driver’s system at the time of an accident can be compelling evidence of reckless behavior, at times resulting in higher compensation for the injured party.
Issuing Citations
The Waterbury police department is responsible for identifying any legal violations that may have contributed to the accident. For example, in car accident cases, if a motorist was driving too fast, ran a red light, or violated some other traffic law, the officer might issue a citation on the spot.
These citations can impact a personal injury case, as they provide clear evidence of negligence. In some situations, multiple parties may receive citations, leading to a more complex determination of fault.
Protect Your Rights
In the stressful moments following an accident, emotions can run high. It is not uncommon for those involved in a serious accident to say or do things that could later be used against them in a legal setting.
By acting fast to contact the Waterbury police department, you ensure that a neutral third party is present to manage the situation. A police officer can de-escalate tensions, prevent confrontations, and ensure that accurate information is provided.
Additionally, if the other person involved in the incident is at fault, he or she may try to persuade you not to involve the police – perhaps to avoid a ticket, insurance consequences, or even jail time. However, by not acting fast to report what happened, you could hinder your ability to seek compensation for your injuries and damages.
The Waterbury Police Department May Collaborate With Other Agencies
In some cases, the Waterbury police department may collaborate with another law enforcement agency during a personal injury investigation. Situations where collaboration with another law enforcement agency may be needed include accidents involving commercial vehicles, hazardous materials, or crimes.
The collaboration with specialized units or state and federal agencies ensures a thorough investigation of the incident. It also provides additional evidence that may be useful to your personal injury claim.
How Personal Injury Lawyers May Use Evidence Gathered by the Waterbury Police Department
The following are some ways that personal injury lawyers will use information gathered by the police when building a case for their clients.
Analyze the police report
Once a police report is filed, your personal injury attorney will act fast to obtain a copy of it and review the details thoroughly. Lawyers will analyze every aspect of the report, comparing it with other evidence, such as medical records, your testimony, and any available surveillance footage.
If there are any discrepancies between the police report and your account of the incident, your lawyer will address these issues and clarify the facts. In some situations, police reports may contain errors or omit facts. Your lawyer can work to correct these flaws by providing additional evidence or witness statements.
Establish liability
A key aspect of any successful personal injury claim is proving liability and fault. The results of police investigations often play an important role in this process.
A personal injury attorney can use evidence from a police investigation to:
- Negotiate with insurance companies: Insurance companies tend to rely heavily on police reports when evaluating claims. Well-documented police documentation can strengthen your position during settlement negotiations.
- Support expert testimony: If your case is complex, your attorney may seek assistance from accident reconstruction experts who can use the details of the report to provide a professional opinion on how the event occurred and who was to blame.
- Present a compelling case in court: If your case goes to trial, the results of the police investigation, along with other evidence gathered by your attorney, will be presented to the judge and jury to substantiate your claim.
Cross-reference police evidence with other sources
The results of an investigation conducted by a Waterbury police officer can provide valuable information. However, a police report is not the only piece of evidence collected in a personal injury claim.
Personal injury attorneys will often take fast action to cross-reference information in police reports with other evidence to build a strong case for their clients.
This may include:
- Medical records: Linking injuries to the accident
- Witness statements: Verifying the accounts provided by the police with independent witness testimony
- Surveillance footage: Reviewing video evidence to confirm or dispute the police report’s findings
Challenges Police Reports Can Present to a Waterbury, Connecticut Personal Injury Case
While police reports can be valuable tools in supporting personal injury claims, they can also present challenges that could potentially complicate your pursuit of fair compensation.
This is one reason why it’s important to act fast to seek legal counsel if you have been harmed in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Your lawyer will fight to overcome any challenges presented by the police investigation and protect your rights.
Potential challenges presented by police reports include:
- Inaccurate information: Police officers are human and can make mistakes. If the report contains inaccuracies, such as incorrect details about the accident or the individuals involved, it can severely impact your case. Your attorney will correct these issues by gathering additional evidence or consulting experts.
- Bias or misinterpretation: Police officers may inadvertently introduce bias into their reports based on their initial impressions of the accident site or the people involved. Your attorney can challenge these findings by presenting a more accurate picture of the events.
- Delayed or missing reports: In some situations, police reports may be delayed or not filed at all. Your attorney can request a copy of the delayed report and gather other evidence to strengthen your personal injury case.
Contact “The Fast Firm” Today
Law enforcement in Waterbury, Connecticut, plays an important role in the investigation of personal injury cases. However, while police reports can be beneficial evidence when pursuing compensation, legal representation will be your best asset.
The personal injury lawyers at our law firm will proactively work to defend your rights and help you get the best possible outcome for your case. We will conduct a full investigation, gather evidence to prove every element of your claim, calculate the full extent of your damages, and represent you in negotiations with insurance companies and others.
At Gould Injury Law, we understand how important it is to our clients to quickly recover compensation after being injured in a serious accident. We pride ourselves on obtaining fast results for our clients. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 888-WIN-FAST or completing the contact form.
