Accident Investigations
Police Officer Reports
Police reports are beneficial to the auto accident victim but are not always the best source of evidence. Officers are typically on the scene after the accident and not an eyewitness.
Police Officer Bias
Many automobile accident victims believe that a police officer is without bias or motive when preparing a report of an accident or injury.
Witness Bias
One of the most troubling areas of law is uncovering the bias of a witness who observed an auto accident. In California, there are evidence rules controlling how an attorney in an Orange County courtroom may expose bias.
Importance of Immediate Investigation
When an auto accident occurs, the first and foremost concern is the injury and safety of the participants. Once that concern is addressed, the focus of any experienced auto accident attorney should be on an immediate investigation.
Keeping the Accident Information Until the Case Is Over
Many potential clients take notes at the accident scene of what they saw, heard, and the information of the other party. They take notes of witnesses who came up to them or saw the accident.
Liability of an Officer for Errors in Investigation or Losing Information
In this day of “CSI,” the public assumes all investigations are conducted like television. In fact, that is not the case, with the majority of accident investigation insufficient.