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After a car crash in Nebraska, one of the most important pieces of evidence is the official police report filled out by the investigating officer. Formally called a State of Nebraska Investigator’s Motor Vehicle Accident Report, this document is used by insurance companies to determine fault and decide whether to approve or deny a claim. If the case goes to trial and the investigating officer is asked to testify, their testimony will most likely be based on the report.
It’s important that you review your report and understand what it says. Here’s what you need to know:
State of Nebraska Investigator’s Motor Vehicle Accident Report
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/ne_par_dr40_rev08_2012_sub12_2013.pdf
Page 1
The first section of this page gives an overview of the accident, including the location, date and time, number of vehicles involved, and whether it was a hit and run.
Click here to download a printable PDF of How to Read Your Nebraska Car Accident Report.
The next two sections describe the vehicles involved in the crash (in a single-vehicle accident, Vehicle 2 is left blank). Each vehicle’s driver and owner are listed, along with the vehicle’s license plate, identification number, and insurance information. These sections also note whether each driver received a citation.
The boxes on the left and right sides refer to the accident report overlays, with V1 and V2 corresponding to the individual vehicles. For instance, V1/M indicates contributing circumstances for the driver of vehicle 1 – such as whether the driver was distracted, following too closely, speeding, or fatigued. This is critical information to establish fault.
The final section documents injuries known to the investigating officer, including each injured person’s contact information, seating position, and the severity of the injury. (Remember that not all injuries are immediately obvious.)
Page 2
The investigating officer draws a diagram of the crash, which should include each vehicle’s position, direction of travel, and how the collision occurred. This diagram should also include physical evidence such as skid marks.
Read through the officer’s written narrative carefully, as it may contain information not mentioned elsewhere.
Any non-vehicle property damage (for instance, if a car hit a fence) is documented here, as is contact information for any witnesses.
The final section documents how each vehicle was moving prior to the crash and where it was hit during the crash, which is important not only for property damage claims, but also to verify injuries to occupants seated in the impacted areas. The section also notes whether airbags were deployed and whether seatbelts were used, which can affect liability for injuries. If drug or alcohol use was suspected, that’s documented here as well.
