Short Answer

In North Carolina, a police crash report can be a strong starting point for showing fault in a parking-lot wreck, especially if it documents the other driver’s unsafe movement, diagram, witness information, and any citations. But the report is not automatically “proof” by itself—insurance companies and courts focus on the underlying facts (photos, vehicle damage, witness statements, and medical records), and parts of a report can be challenged. Use the report to organize and support your claim, then back it up with independent evidence.

Understanding the Problem

If you were T-boned in a workplace parking lot and police made a report, you may be asking: in North Carolina, can you use that police report to make the other driver’s insurer accept fault and pay for your treatment?

Apply the Law

North Carolina fault claims (including parking-lot crashes) usually come down to whether the other driver failed to use reasonable care and whether anything you did contributed to the collision. A police crash report often helps because it captures the officer’s on-scene investigation: who the parties are, where the impact occurred, the officer’s diagram, listed contributing circumstances, and witness details. Still, insurers and courts generally treat the report as one piece of evidence—not a substitute for photos, witness testimony, and medical documentation tying your injuries to the crash.

Also, be careful about what you highlight from the report. For example, North Carolina law restricts using certain insurance/financial-responsibility information from accident reporting as evidence of negligence in a civil case.

Key Requirements

• Get the right report (and the complete version): Use the official crash report number and obtain a copy that includes the diagram, contributing circumstances, and any listed witnesses.
• Use the report for the “facts,” not just the conclusion: The most persuasive parts are objective details (impact point, lane/aisle positions, diagram, statements attributed to drivers, and witness contact info).
• Connect fault to a clear driving error: In parking lots, fault often turns on who was backing, who was entering/leaving a space, who had the clearer duty to yield, and whether a driver failed to keep a proper lookout.
• Anticipate contributory negligence arguments: If the insurer can pin any meaningful fault on you, it may deny the claim. Your evidence should address common allegations like “you were speeding through the lot” or “you weren’t paying attention.”
• Document injuries and treatment promptly: A crash report does not prove injury. Medical records (and consistent history) usually matter most for getting treatment paid and for any injury claim.
• Avoid relying on insurance details in the report to prove fault: North Carolina limits using financial-responsibility information from accident reports as evidence of negligence.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166.1 (Crash reports; investigation; effect of report) - Requires law enforcement investigation and a written report for reportable crashes; explains when accident reports may (or may not) be used as evidence.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-279.11 (Financial responsibility info not evidence of negligence) - Says certain insurance/financial-responsibility information tied to accident reporting cannot be used as evidence of negligence or due care at trial.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-139 (Burden of proof of contributory negligence) - Places the burden on the party asserting contributory negligence to prove it.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Here, the report should help because the collision described (another driver pulling out and striking your driver-side door) often matches a failure to yield/keep a proper lookout while entering the travel aisle. Use the report’s diagram, the listed “contributing circumstances,” and the damage location (driver-side door) to show the direction of travel and point of impact. Then support it with photos of the final positions, damage patterns, and any witness statements the report identifies.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: You (the injured driver/claimant). Where: With the at-fault driver’s auto insurer (claims department) and, if needed, your own insurer for applicable coverages. What: Provide the crash report (and report number), photos, witness contact info, and a short written summary of how the crash happened. When: As soon as possible while evidence and memories are fresh.
2. Build a “report-plus” packet: Send (a) the report pages showing the diagram and contributing circumstances, (b) photos of vehicle damage and the parking-lot layout, and (c) any witness statement you can obtain (even a short written statement with contact info). Ask the adjuster to confirm in writing whether liability is accepted or still under investigation.
3. Prove the injury side separately: If you have lower-back pain, get evaluated promptly and tell the provider the symptoms started after the crash. Keep copies of visit notes, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations. If you pursue chiropractic care, confirm in advance how billing will work and whether the insurer requires records or pre-authorization for certain care.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• The report is not a liability guarantee: If the officer did not witness the crash, the report may reflect competing stories. Insurers may treat it as neutral unless it includes strong objective details or a citation tied to unsafe movement.
• Contributory negligence defenses: The insurer may argue you shared fault (for example, you were cutting across rows, not watching for vehicles backing out, or driving too fast for conditions). Address this directly with photos, a clear diagram, and consistent statements.
• “Parking lot = private property” confusion: Even if some traffic statutes apply differently on private property, negligence claims still turn on reasonable care. Don’t assume the insurer will accept fault just because it happened in a lot.
• Insurance information limits: Don’t try to use the report’s insurance/financial-responsibility sections as “proof” of negligence; North Carolina restricts that use in civil cases.
• Injury documentation gap: A report can show a crash happened, but it does not prove your back pain was caused by it. Waiting too long to get evaluated can make causation harder to show.

Conclusion

In North Carolina, you can use a police crash report to support fault in a parking-lot accident, but it works best when you rely on the report’s objective details (diagram, impact location, contributing circumstances, and witnesses) and back them up with photos and witness statements. Separately, you must document your injuries with timely medical evaluation and records. Your next step is to request the official crash report and send the report-plus evidence packet to the other driver’s insurer as soon as possible.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you're dealing with a parking-lot crash where the insurer is disputing fault or questioning your injuries, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options and timelines. Reach out today. Call [CONTACT NUMBER].

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.