A police investigation is an essential part of every car accident. Whether the accident is minor or major, you must report it to the police. And police are responsible for gathering evidence to determine who has committed the crime.
This article discusses how do police investigate a car accident. That includes all the steps conducted in a police investigation.
How Do Police Investigate a Car Accident: 6 Steps
A police investigation takes place after a car accident occurs. Also, know that the investigation will be administered right at the accident scene.
As soon as you report an accident to the police, they arrive at the scene shortly to observe the accident and make a report.
Between the observation and police come many more steps. Generally, the following steps are completed in a car accident police investigation.
Observe the accident scene
A uniformed police officer will arrive at the accident scene. They will initially observe the accident scene. By this, the officer will try to determine the severity of the injuries of the parties involved in the accident. Additionally, they will contact the medical officers for the medical reports of injuries.
Interview drivers and witnesses
The police will talk to people on-spot to know what exactly happens. Alongside that, if the drivers are available at the accident scene, the police will talk to them too. They will do it to include statements in the police report and match them with the evidence.
Also Read: Punishment for Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Alberta?
Document accident details and take photos
Police will note down the circumstance of an accident in detail. That means they will note down everything directly related to the accident, such as:
- Skid marks
- Measuring the size of the vehicle
- Where was the car damaged?
- Which body parts got injured by the involved parties?
Besides, the police will capture photos of the details. Along with these factors, police may look into many more factors associated with the accident.
Inspect damages on the vehicle
As mentioned in the previous section, police will check the vehicle damage, and the process involves more aspects. While inspecting the damage, the police officer will try to measure the severity of the damage. Additionally, they will check the tire condition, brakes, etc.
Find other contributing factors of an accident
Every accident has some sort of contributing factor. Therefore, the police officer will consider them and include those in the police report.
Some of the common contributing factors are:
- Traffic
- Weather
- Car condition before the accident
- Drugs and alcohol
Determine fault
You can guess that this is the last of the car accident police investigations. Not to mention, the whole process is carried on to find out who is at-fault in an accident. It doesn’t matter if the accident is less severe.
To find out the fault, the police officers will consider a few more factors, such as:
- Speeding
- Driving while intoxicated etc.
What Do Police Do for Further Investigation?
The investigation process can take an indefinite time. And the duration can be long or short, depending on how complicated the case is.
After completing the steps above, the police will decide if the investigation will continue. In case they need to carry out further investigation, the police will do a few more things, as follows:
- They will forward a copy of the statements to the victim. The statement is a typed document of the accident from the victim’s point of view.
- The police will keep the victim informed during the investigation. However, informing the victim can put the investigation in jeopardy. In that case, the victim will be informed when possible. A victim will have a little responsibility here. For instance, they must notify law enforcement if there’s any change in their contact details.
- The police need to inform the victim about the charges of the accused. Also, they will explain not charging for a particular aspect.
- If law enforcement needs to change a decision about the acquisition pressed against the offender, the police notify the victim. That will include— the accused might want to plead guilty. That way, they will have a less severe penalty.
- In the prosecution, an officer from Public Prosecution will guide the victim instead of the police. In that stage, if the charges change or the offender has admitted guilt–none of these will be the police’s responsibility as the higher authority will handle the case in the prosecution.
- The police will update the victim about the outcomes of the changes and punishment handed down to the offender.
Concluding Remarks
Once an accident gets reported, law enforcement will proceed with it step by step. First, they will check the crash scene and make an initial report. After that, if further investigation is needed, they will do it to inform the victim. Overall, the police investigation of a car accident is a strict process that you can escape.
Make sure to report whenever there is an accident. The police and an expert lawyer can help you get the right justice along with the desired compensation.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take Police to Investigate a Car Accident?
There isn’t any specific duration of a car accident police investigation. As every accident takes place differently, the investigation process will vary too. There are factors like the severity of an accident, collecting evidence, and so on. So, the police can’t tell you how long it will take.
Who Determines Fault in a Car Accident?
After the initial investigation of an accident, police determine the fault. First, they will visit the spot and make a report on everything visible, and hear about the accident. They will also collect the information of drivers involved in the accident to determine fault.
What are the Accident Fault Determination Rules?
The main rule of fault determination is identifying who is responsible for an accident. A fault will be assigned from 1% to 100%. So, the evidence might show there’s a 50/50 fault, or it could be 100% at fault, or someone could be more at fault.
How Do Police Determine Fault in an Accident?
First, police will observe the accident scene thoroughly. That will include the damages, any further evidence, interview the people involved, and talk to witnesses. After completing the investigation, the police decide who is at fault.
Does the Police Report Determine Fault?
Yes, but the court might say otherwise. In other words, the police will investigate and make a police report. In the police report, they specify who they think is at fault. So, that is one part of fault determination. Next, the case will be assessed in court to see if the acquisition is right for the prosecution.