How to Deal With the LAPD After an Accident

When you’re involved in a car accident, dealing with the police may seem intimidating. Their response time, accident investigation and traffic collision report will most likely have a major impact on your car accident claim. That’s why it’s important to know what to expect when interacting with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers at the scene of your accident. 

The Dominguez Firm will walk you through the immediate aftermath of a car accident, help you understand how the LAPD responds, and advise you on how to handle discrepancies and potential disputes. We aim to help you navigate these often complex situations more efficiently and confidently, especially after major car accidents.

The Immediate Aftermath of a Car Accident: 

In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, your safety and the safety of anyone else involved should be your main concern. It’s crucial to follow these steps:

Safety First: Checking for Injuries and Moving Out of Traffic if Possible

The first thing you should do following an accident is check yourself and any passengers in your vehicle for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately and wait for medical assistance. If you can move around easily, try to move your car off the road and out of traffic if it’s safe. This will help prevent further accidents and protect everyone involved. 

The Importance of Not Admitting Guilt or Discussing Fault

You must avoid admitting guilt or discussing fault with the other driver or anyone else at the accident scene. Even if you believe that you are at fault, it’s important to stay quiet and comply with any requests from law enforcement. Accidents happen quickly and you’re probably shaken up. What you think happened may not have. Also, anything you say can and will be used against you in court, so it’s essential to remain calm and avoid making statements that could implicate or damage your legal case. 

Documenting the Accident Scene and Gathering Evidence

If you can do so safely, take photos of the accident scene and gather any evidence that could help with your legal case later on. This includes taking down the other driver’s contact information, insurance information, and license plate number. You should also collect the names and contact information of witnesses who saw the accident. All of this information is extremely beneficial if you were injured and need to file a lawsuit for your car accident. 

Taking Care of Yourself After the Accident

Finally, it’s essential to take care of yourself after an accident, both physically and mentally. Seek medical attention immediately, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Many injuries can take hours or even days to appear, so it’s essential to get checked out by a medical professional. Additionally, process your emotions and seek support from friends and loved ones. Accidents can be traumatic, and taking care of your mental and physical health is essential. 

Understanding LAPD’s Response Time

Responding to emergencies is a critical daily function of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The LAPD is responsible for reducing response times to ensure public safety by providing immediate aid to individuals in need of help. The LAPD has distinctive challenges regarding response time due to the volume of calls and the city’s expansive size. It’s important to understand the factors that affect how long it takes for the police to arrive at the scene, particularly when prioritizing emergencies. 

Seriousness of the Emergency

One of the most significant factors impacting LAPD response time is the nature of the emergency. Major emergencies, such as violent crimes in progress, warrant a higher priority and require a quicker response. 911 dispatchers follow a priority protocol to distinguish minor events from significant emergencies. Generally, life-threatening incidents will always take precedence over non-life-threatening ones.

Location of the Emergency

The location of the incident is another factor that impacts how long police and other emergency responders take to arrive on the scene. For example, if an emergency occurs in a densely populated area, and the police must navigate crowded streets and parking lots, it will take them longer to get there. On the other hand, if an emergency occurs in a more remote location, fewer emergency responders must be dispatched, and they will be able to get there more quickly.

Time of Day the Emergency Occurred

The time of day that the emergency occurs also affects response times. During rush hour, traffic is bound to create congestion and delays for emergency responders. Therefore, the time of day when an emergency occurs can affect how long it takes for the LAPD to arrive at the scene.

In addition to these factors, there are several ways that the public can help ensure the LAPD can respond promptly to emergencies. One of the most essential things individuals can do is to provide clear, concise information about the emergency to 911 dispatchers. Providing as much detail as possible about the emergency allows the police to respond appropriately and prioritize those involving severe injury or loss of life.

How Long Does It Take the Police to Investigate a Car Accident?

On-scene investigations are conducted when an officer arrives at the accident site. During the investigation, the officer will first survey the accident scene. They will take photos of the scene, collect information about drivers and vehicles involved, gather witness statements, and collect other evidence required for the case. The duration of on-scene investigation varies depending on the complexity and severity of the accident. Typically, on-scene investigations take between 30 minutes to two hours to complete.

Extended investigations happen when the police need to conduct additional analysis to determine the cause of the accident and who is responsible. This can happen if it was a major traffic accident involving multiple vehicles and loss of life, or if there is a dispute over who’s liable for it.

 Comprehensive investigations may involve:

• Collecting and analyzing medical reports
• Gathering other witness statements
• Conducting more in-depth witness interviews

The length of an extended investigation varies depending on the complexity and severity of the accident. The investigation can last several months before an official report is produced on a serious car accident.

Another situation in which extended investigation time is necessary is when the drivers dispute facts and liability. When parties cannot agree on who was at fault in the accident, the case may require a more extensive investigation to determine the facts correctly. This can include requesting security footage from any nearby cameras and the services of a car accident expert to recreate how the collision happened. An investigation of this nature could easily last several weeks, especially if there are several parties involved.

In short, the time it takes the police to investigate a car accident varies depending on the complexity and severity of the accident and the number of vehicles involved. Other factors affecting the investigation’s length include the accident’s location, weather conditions, and time of day. Furthermore, the backlog of investigations pending can also affect how long it takes the police to investigate the accident.

Let Your Personal Injury Attorney Deal with Your Car Accident Claim

If you suffered serious injuries in a car accident, either as a driver or a passenger, seek legal representation immediately. The majority of personal injury law firms offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis. This simply means they receive a percentage of your settlement or verdict. You have no out-of-pocket or legal fees to deal with at all. You can and should hire an attorney to represent you.

Also, if you suffered serious injuries, the last thing you need is the stress of obtaining police reports and insurance company adjusters. A personal injury attorney can obtain a copy of the police report, be it a municipal, state or highway patrol department for you. 

Your personal injury attorney will share the police report with you so you can both go over any inaccuracies carefully. This may include incorrect contact information or inaccuracies in the accident details. Point out anything that is incorrect to your lawyer, even if it’s something minor. Your attorney and you will also review the report for any statements made by witnesses or the other driver that may have implications for your claim.

Note that the police report is an important piece of evidence in the claims process. Insurance companies will often use the report to determine fault and assess damages. If the report contains any discrepancies or errors, it could impact the outcome of your claim.

An experienced personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles can help ensure the report is accurate and represent you in negotiations with insurance companies.

How Personal Injury Lawyers Handle Police Report Discrepancies

Personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles play a crucial role in helping accident victims seek compensation for their injuries. One common challenge they face is navigating discrepancies and disputes in police reports. These reports are vital pieces of evidence in personal injury cases, as they document the details of the accident and can greatly influence the outcome of a claim.

While the police are there to protect and serve, they also have a job, and sometimes, things don’t go as planned. There may be discrepancies between the police report and what actually happened. For example, you may not have been able to give your recollection of the events that led to the accident because you had to be rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. As a result, the police report may be wildly different from what you remember, since it only had the other driver’s version. If you are in a situation like this, it’s even more important you have an experienced car accident attorney representing you.

Discrepancies in police reports can arise for various other reasons too; mistakes by the responding officers, differing witness accounts, or even biases. Here’s how personal injury lawyers help clients address these issues:

Gathering Additional Evidence: Personal injury lawyers understand that police reports may not always provide the full picture. They work to gather additional evidence, such as photographs, videos, and testimonies from witnesses, to support their client’s version of events. They may also find other factors, not in the police report, that led to your car accident. This will help balance out any discrepancies in the report.

Expert Witnesses: Lawyers often consult with accident reconstruction experts who can analyze the evidence and provide an unbiased opinion on how the accident occurred. These experts can help clarify the sequence of events and identify any inaccuracies in the police report.

Interviewing Witnesses: Lawyers conduct thorough interviews with witnesses to uncover any inconsistencies in their statements or to gather more information that might not have been included in the police report.

Medical Records: In personal injury cases, medical records are crucial in proving the extent of injuries. Lawyers obtain and present these records to demonstrate the impact of the accident on their clients’ well-being, which can override discrepancies in the police report.

Legal Argument: Experienced lawyers are skilled in presenting a strong legal argument that focuses on the key facts and evidence that support their client’s case. They can effectively counter any inaccuracies in the police report through persuasive argumentation.

Negotiation and Settlement: Personal injury lawyers may engage in negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company to reach a fair settlement. They use the evidence they’ve gathered to build a strong case and force the insurer’s hand to offer a reasonable compensation amount.

Court Litigation: If the insurance company still won’t do the right thing, a personal injury lawyer can take your case to court. In a courtroom, they can present the evidence, call witnesses, and challenge the police report to seek justice for their clients.

Navigating discrepancies and disputes in police reports is a common challenge for personal injury lawyers in California. Their expertise in gathering evidence, working with experts, and using legal arguments can help level the playing field and ensure that their clients receive fair compensation for their injuries. If you’ve been seriously injured in an accident, call The Dominguez Firm right away. We offer free consultations at (800)818-1818. Let us guide you through the process and help you overcome the challenges posed by police reports. With over 30 years of experience and a 96%* success rate, our team is here for you.