Things one should know when making a police report in Trinidad and Tobago concerning a vehicular accident:
- After an accident have occurred and both parties came to an understanding and/ or agreement meaning that someone accept liability for the accident a police report still needs to be made. Once there is injury and/or damage to property a police report must be reported by all parties involved regardless who is right or wrong. Some police officers may advise that once a person accepts liability there is no need to make a report, as the police would see it as the matter can be settled outside and there is no need for police intervention. I would advise and based on experience dealing with the police that you insist you need to make a report.
- For person(s) who fail to make a police report and the person who accepts liability fails to follow through for whatever reason for example unable to pay for the damages done to the vehicle(s). You have a 6 months grace period in which the accident could still be reported and investigated by the police.
- Once you decide to make the police report ensure to request for a receipt. Any kind of report made at any police station a receipt should be given. Normally the police officers in Trinidad and Tobago would not give you a receipt only if you ask for it. So please after each report made at any police station in Trinidad and Tobago please request for a receipt. The importance of this receipt is to show as evidence that you made a formal report to the police in the event you may need it later down the road. As things tend to get lost in the police station.
- You should also request for a copy of the police report that was taken. This report normally would take 2 weeks to be processed or inserted into their system for you to collect. This police report would only make sense to collect when all parties that was involved in the accident gave their side of how the incident occurred. This police report can then be presented to the insurance companies.
- Seeing that we are living a computerized society the next best step is to scan all documents and email these documents to multiple email addresses with suitable subject title and body for example "Accident occurred on Musica intersection". Names or sentences that you can easily remember from the accident. This is to help with searching for the email for future reference.
- This is when things get serious when the other party or parties involved in the accident fail to make a report. After time has passed and no one has made a report the next step is to give a statement to the police.
- Please keep in mind a Report is totally different from a Statement. A report is basically a summary of how the accident occurred, what took place, who was involved all the basic information. However, a statement is much more detailed it includes all the information from the report together with all the events that took place until the day when you decide to give a statement.
- Extremely important to remember a Statement MUST be given before the 6 months period or investigating period from the date of the accident to the date the statement was received.
- Your next option is to report your claim to the Supervisory of Insurance properly known as Office of Financial Services Ombudsman located in Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago one of the Twin Towers. You would be required to fill out a form and attach a Copy of your Insurance Certificate, a Copy of your Certified Copy of Ownership of the vehicle, a copy of the Estimate to repair your vehicle and any other supporting documents such as photos, police report or police statement.