Vicksburg, Mississippi, sees its share of traffic accidents along I-20, Halls Ferry Rd. and Washington St., among many other roads.
In the event of an accident, you might need to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company (or your own).
In some cases you might even need to file a lawsuit. Either way, you are going to need evidence, and a Vicksburg accident report is potentially useful evidence.
So exactly how do you get a Vicksburg car accident report?
Restrictions
An accident report, known officially as the Mississippi Uniform Crash Report, contains private information, and the Vicksburg police will not send you one automatically. You have to ask for it, and you must qualify as an interested party (one of the following):
- A driver or passenger involved in the accident (an “involved party”):
- A representative or executor of an involved party’s probate estate (in a fatal accident);
- The next of kin of an involved party (in a fatal accident):
- The lawyer or legal representative of an involved party; or
- A representative of an insurer of an involved party.
If you are not an interested party, it is illegal for you to acquire a crash report. If you break this law, Mississippi can fine you up to $2,500 and imprison you for up to six months.
Procedure for Obtaining the Report
There are three ways to acquire a copy of a Vicksburg MS accident report:
- Online;
- By mail at Driver Records Division, P.O. Box 958, Jackson, Mississippi, 39205 (call 601-987-1224 first); or
- In person at the Mississippi Highway Patrol Office or the Vicksburg Police Station.
You will be issued a copy of the report, not the original.
What Does a Vicksburg, MS Accident Report Contain?
A Mississippi Uniform Crash Report typically contains the following information:
- Date, time, and location of the accident,
- Names and contact details for the involved parties,
- Names and contact details for witnesses,
- Any statements given by involved parties or witnesses,
- A diagram of the accident,
- Description of damage to vehicles,
- Weather and road conditions at the scene of the accident,
- Copies of any citations or warrants issued, and
- The officer´s view of the cause of the accident and who was at fault.
The report may contain much more information as well, such as photos of the scene of the accident.
How Your Attorney Can Use a Vicksburg Accident Report to Win Your Claim
Your attorney can use the accident report to help you win your claim in the following ways, among others:
- As evidence at trial, at least most of the time;
- As leverage at the settlement table;
- As an information resource to provide background information or leads to search for admissible evidence.
If the content of the accident report is unfavorable to you, the other side will surely seek to introduce it. Your attorney can help you challenge it. A seasoned Mississippi car accident attorney may also find many more ways to use a Vicksburg accident report in your favor.
Let Us Join the Fight on Your Side
Insurance adjusters are professional negotiators with one goal—to pay out as little as possible.
Indeed, you might even have to file a lawsuit to get their attention. Another way is to let them know you have retained a top-tier personal injury law firm to represent you.
With over 35 years of experience in personal injury law, we can provide the help you need. Contact the Harris Law Firm at 662-262-8430 or contact us online for a free case review.
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