911 Recordings

An often overlooked piece of evidence in car accident cases or other personal injury cases is recordings from 911 calls. Many lawyers don't realize that these recordings are readily available and often easily obtainable. They are available by way of the Missouri Sunshine Act and federal Freedom of Information Act. There are certain requirements that need to be followed when making the request, but the end is often worth the means.

These recordings can yield admissions form the negligent driver, provide crucial information from witnesses, and can help explain the severity of a collision. These things can really strengthen your case.

One important thing to remember, however, is that the length of time these recordings are kept can vary depending on the police department. Generally, these recordings are maintained for a year, but the time frame is often much shorter than that. It is therefore important to get to a lawyer who can obtain these recordings as soon after a collision as possible.

I routinely request obtain these recordings. So, if you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident in Kansas City, please contact me to find out if the 911 recordings are still available.

Matthew D. Meyerkord is a perosnal injury attorney in Kansas City, Missouri.