How to Read Your Florida Car Accident Report

Your crash report can serve as a critical piece of evidence in an injury claim

Understanding your Florida car accident report is essential for navigating the aftermath of a car accident in Palm Beach County effectively. While it may appear to be just another document, your crash report holds critical information that can significantly impact your claim. From law enforcement officials to insurance companies and attorneys, everyone involved relies on this report to ascertain the facts surrounding your accident.

Your police accident report serves as a comprehensive record detailing the sequence of events leading up to and following the crash. It includes crucial details such as the accident’s date, time, and location, as well as information about the vehicles involved, injuries sustained, and potential contributing factors.

At The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo, P.A. in Palm Beach Gardens, we understand the importance of having a police report that provides accurate details of the facts surrounding your crash. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your accident report or the claims process, do not hesitate to contact us. Mr. Shomo and his team are here to provide you with the guidance and support you need to pursue the compensation and justice you deserve.

Page 1:

The Florida Car Accident Report is typically made up of four pages, all serving the same purpose: to clearly create a picture of your car accident. On the first page you’ll find crucial details about your accident:

• At the top, you’ll see the date, time, and location of the crash.
• The second section includes information about the drivers and vehicles involved. This includes names, addresses, insurance details, vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers, and vehicle identification numbers (VINs). It also notes any damage to the vehicles. Additionally, this section documents the posted speed limit, injuries to occupants and pedestrians, and any alcohol or drug tests conducted by the police.

Page 2:

The second page is meant for the investigating officer to take notes about how they believe the crash occurred. This narrative may include additional information not found in earlier sections, such as:

• Witness testimonies, passenger information, additional violations, witness contact details, and whether any parties were treated or taken to a hospital.

Page 3:

The previous pages are all meant for notes on your accident, but the third page of the report has space for a diagram. This diagram will be illustrated by the investigating officer and should show through a picture how the accident occurred. Since this sketch may be unclear in comparison with straightforward notes, if you find the diagram confusing, contact The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo, P.A. in Palm Beach Gardens. Mr. Shomo can go through each page with you to ensure you understand all the details and help set the record straight if something is wrong.

Page 4:

The fourth page of your Florida Crash Report will have documentation of information about factors that contributed to the crash, including:

• The driver actions, vehicle defects, weather conditions, road conditions, sequence of events, and other potential causes, each assigned a number code.
• At the bottom of page four there is a spot for any traffic violations that caused or contributed to the crash, and if so, the violator’s name, Florida statute number, charge, and citation number should all be documented.

Page 5:

The fifth page of the Florida Crash Report is the Person’s Page. Every individual involved in the crash will have their own page.

• At the top of the page, you’ll find the person’s name and contact information as well as the description of the individual (whether they were a driver, passenger, pedestrian, etc). Here you will also find their vehicle number if it applies.
• Depending on the description of the person, the officer at the scene will fill out the appropriate section in the middle of the page.
• There is also a section to document alcohol or drug use.

Click here to download a PDF of these instructions.

Get the help you need from an experienced car accident attorney

Your Florida car accident report is important, and understanding it is even more critical. At The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo, P.A., Mr. Shomo and his dedicated legal team conduct thorough investigations to uncover any missed details. An accurate police report is a big part of that. Whether you need help getting a copy or have questions regarding a certain page, trust our law firm to put your needs first. Contact us for a free consultation today.