Few details available in fatal crash

DONNA – One person was killed in a September 19 traffic accident in Donna. According to a spokesperson for the Donna Police Department, the accident happened on the eastbound frontage road near the Hutto Road intersection.

The victim is identified only as a 63-year-old Donna woman. No other information is available on the circumstances that led to the crash. The Texas Department of Public Safety is assisting Donna police in the crash investigation.

The importance of police reports in personal injury cases

Car crash victims cannot recover compensation for their injuries unless they are able to prove liability. A police report is one of the key elements used to prove liability.

What is a Police Report?

A police report is prepared by the officer who first arrives on the scene and investigates the circumstances of the crash. The officer’s report will contain as information as he/she is able to gather, including:

• When/where the accident took place
• Parties involved
• Witness contact information
• Statements from the parties involved
• Description of the accident
• Description of the property damage
• Citations issued
• A conclusion as to who was to blame for the accident

The parties involved have a right to obtain a copy of this report from the law enforcement agency shortly after the accident, usually around three days following the crash.

How the police report used in personal injury cases

The at-fault party’s insurance company will request a copy of the police report after learning about the accident. The company’s adjusters will review the document to get an idea of what happened, and who may or may not have been to blame.

The adjusters will conduct their own investigation even if they have a copy of the police report. That adjuster may come to the same conclusion that the police officer did. It is possible for there to be some disagreement with the report, but it’s hard for insurance adjusters to argue with the facts outlined in the police report.