Sept. 21--The Fort Smith Police Department will no longer include phone numbers of people involved in vehicular accidents in collision reports, effective immediately.
Several citizens have notified the police department recently to complain about various doctor, lawyer and chiropractic clinics calling them directly after they were involved in an accident, a Police Department news release states.
Typically these clinics mail a pamphlet or other literature to the involved parties after an accident, the news release states. Contact numbers have been included on state accident forms to assist insurance companies with follow-up investigations, according to the release.
According to Arkansas statutes, any accident documented in a collision report is available to the public, the release states.
In one complaint, an entity called a police officer's spouse and claimed to be working in conjunction with the Police Department, Sgt. Daniel Grubbs said.
"The Fort Smith Police Department wants to ensure all citizens that the department does not, in any form or fashion, collaborate with any legal firm, medical facility (medical doctor or chiropractic professional) or any other business entity regarding accident investigations," the release states.
Police suggest that anyone involved in an accident should exchange numbers with each other or use their respective insurance agents for communication.
"It's not fair to citizens, so we made a change in action," Grubbs said.
Copyright 2012 - Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark.
