Sunday, March 24, 2024

Do I Need A Police Report For An Accident

Don't Miss

Find Out When You’re Legally Or Contractually Obligated To Report An Accident

Is a Police Report Required to Prove my Auto Accident Case?

By David Landers

Some of the most common car accidents are minor “fender benders” that do not involve injuries. These accidents can happen in parking lots when cars are backing out from parking spaces, or when driving at an intersection as you’re trying to stop for a red light. Maybe you misjudged your stopping distance and “bumped” the rear bumper of the car ahead of you.

Frequently these accidents do not cause any injuries to the drivers or passengers. However, the collisions can still result in minor property damage to the cars, whether it’s a dented bumper or fender, or scrapes and scratches on the paint.

In those situations, the question often arises, “Do I need to report this type of accident?” There are two entities to which you might report the accident, and different considerations apply to each. Read on to learn more.

Information A Police Report Provides

As mentioned previously, a police report is unbiased. It is the viewpoint of a law enforcement officer who is not invested in who is right or wrong in the occurrence of an auto accident. Instead, this officer provides an objective view of multiple factors of the car collision, including:

  • The precise location of the car accidents occurrence
  • Date and time the auto accident occurred
  • Damage to vehicles and other property as a result of the accident
  • Injuries sustained by drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or others
  • Statements and identifying information of witnesses to the crash
  • Statements of drivers regarding their perspective of the accident
  • Environmental information from the time of the accident
  • Other important facts

Having a police report in evidence for your case supports your claim and can vastly improve your chances of successfully obtaining the compensation you deserve, as a victim of another partys fault or negligence.

If you are the driver determined to be at fault, you still need to have a police report of the accident. When the other driver makes a claim or tries to fake aspects of the accident, having a filed police report copy will prove very helpful and may keep you from having to pay for a false injury. Regardless of which side of legal case you are on after an auto accident, as plaintiff or defendant, having a police report will serve you well.

If A Police Officer Was Present At The Scene

  • If you were involved in an accident and a police officer was called to the scene to obtain all the needed information, you do not need to provide any forms unless you receive a letter from the Department of Revenue
  • If you are sent a notice by the department it will inform you of what needs to be done.

Don’t Miss: How Can I Find My Police Report Online

Why Is It Important To Report Accidents

If you dont report an accident, someone could claim against you later.

For example, say you bumped into someones parked car and drove off. At the time there might not be anyone around, but you may have been caught on CCTV or someone might have seen you.

Its also a legal requirement to stop after an accident, no matter how minor it is. You can find more information on this in the Road Traffic Act.

Driving off after something like this can have far greater repercussions than if you stop, leave your details and report it to the police.

So if you havent spoken to the driver of the vehicle, you need to leave your details and report it to the police.

If you dont, you could face a fine, points on your licence or a driving ban.

Let Us Help You File Your Claim

Do I Need a Police Report After a Car Accident in Texas?

Your best chance at a favorable outcome to your accident claim is by having evidence that proves another driver is responsible for an accident that caused your injuries.

Our attorneys are prepared to help you prove another drivers negligence, even if you did not file a police report.

Learn how. Call today at

Don’t Miss: How To Obtain Police Clearance Certificate

Do I Have To Report A Car Accident

In California, drivers involved in car accidents resulting in any injury or death to a driver or pedestrian are required by law to contact the police or highway patrol and make a written report within 24 hours of the incident.

In cases of accidents that happen in California involving injury, death or property damage exceeding $1,000, drivers must also report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days.

Do I Need To Report The Accident To My Car Insurance Company

You should report the accident to your car insurance provider even if youre not planning to make a claim.

This is because the other driver might decide to make a claim without you knowing.

You should call them as soon after the accident as possible.

Theyll likely ask for:

  • The registration numbers of the cars involved.
  • The other drivers name, address and phone number.
  • The other drivers insurance details, if you have them.

You could also mention if you have any dash cam footage of the accident at this point too.

Read Also: How To Look Up A Police Report

Your Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney Needs To Know What The Police Found

Not only does your Las Vegas car accident attorney need the police report, they need to know what happened when the police got to the scene. Did the other driver take off? Was he arrested for DUI? These are things that youll never know if you dont call the cops.

When the police arrive at the scene, they will do a few things:

  • Theyll check to see if either driver appears impaired. If they do, hell have them undergo field sobriety tests and will also do a breathalyzer if necessary. If the defendant is drunk or under the influence of drugs, the cops will arrest him. This will be per se evidence of the defendants liability.
  • If one of the drivers fled the scene, the cops can look for him. Hell call in a description of the car and other police officers will keep an eye out for them, which will at least give you a chance of getting their insurance information.
  • The police can get witness statements. Sometimes, people are reluctant to be witnesses to car accidents and they just dont want to get involved. They are more willing to talk to the police than to a stranger, so the cops can get witness statements when you probably cannot.
  • The police officer will get a statement from each driver. This is important because whatever the other driver says at the scene can be used against him in a lawsuit. He may admit to doing something that makes him liable. If you dont get a police statement, he can lie and change his story later on.

Inspection And Repair Process

“Do I Need a Police Report After a Car Accident?” – NC Car Accident Lawyers

Once you report your claim, if eligible, make an appointment for a damage inspection.

  • The inspection typically takes around 30 minutes.
  • If your car isn’t safe to drive, we’ll send a GEICO adjuster to look at your car.
  • You don’t have to meet with our adjuster unless you want to.

After the inspection, you can have your vehicle repaired anywhere you wish.

Consider an Auto Repair Xpress® location for one-stop inspection, repair, and rental.

  • The shop will begin the repair process as soon as you drop off your vehicle.
  • You can go home in a rental vehicle if you have rental reimbursement coverage.
  • You’ll get regular updates on your car’s repair progress

Report a new claim or track your claim today to see if you can schedule an inspection appointment online.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Police Clearance Certificate In Usa

Munley Law Can Help You Obtain Your Police Report

Without the report, you will have trouble proving your side of the story. And the days following a car accident can prove overwhelming. This is one step in the process that you do not want to forget.

An experienced and compassionate car accident lawyer can help you navigate this process and answer any questions you may have along the way. Contact Munley Law for help with your car accident claim today. Choose carefully.

If Youre In An Accident

If you have an accident causing damage or injury you must give the following to anyone with reasonable grounds for requiring them, for example an insurance company:

  • your name and address
  • the vehicle registration number

You also need to give the owners name and address if the vehicle is not yours.

You must report the accident to the police within 24 hours if you do not give your details at the time of the accident.

You must also report the accident to your insurance company, even if youre not planning to make a claim.

Recommended Reading: How To Train A Dog To Be A Police Dog

Reporting An Accident To The Police After The Fact

Depending on the situation of your accident, police officers may not come to the scene to file a police report. The absence of police can be for a multitude of factors. If the collision is minor enough, a police officer may not show up, but make sure you call them regardless and follow their instructions.

Other factors include the location of the accident or the weather. Regardless of the police not coming to the scene, reporting an accident to police after the fact is always crucial. Having an official written statement of the collision may help you if you decide to pursue a future settlement or lawsuit.

Another main reason why police may not come to file a police report for a car accident is if there are no injuries. Speaking with the police about any injuries that may have occurred will help them determine if they will come to the scene of the accident or decide not to. If law enforcement declines to come to the accident scene, reporting an accident to police after the fact is of utmost importance. When you call the police to report the accident at the scene, make sure to describe what you see. If there are any injuries, they will be able to help guide you in next steps.

If there is a public emergency such as a natural disaster or pandemic restrictions, police may not show up to the accident. Your accident is still important, but there may be factors at large that prevent officers from leaving another situation or responding to one such as a minor collision.

When Am I Required To Report An Accident

Do I Need To File A Police Report After A Car Accident ...

The requirements to report an accident depend on the severity of the accident, the extent of injuries suffered and the amount of physical damages incurred. In some cases, you may be required to immediately report an accident to the police. In other cases, you will need to report the accident to your insurance company and to a collision reporting centre once you have taken care of matters at the scene of the accident, and sometimes you do not have to report an accident at all.

Recommended Reading: How To Volunteer For Police Department

Should You File A Report For Small Accidents

Even if there is only minor damage, it is still smart to file an accident report to record the details. The damage isn’t always clear at the time of the crash, and you might notice added injury or loss at a later time.

You don’t know what the other person in the car accident will decide to do or say after you have left the scene. Filing a report means the police can help make sure the details are correct.

Do I Have To Report A Car Accident In Ontario

4 minute read

Hopefully, you will never be in a car accident and will not have to worry about how to report one. However, one out of three Ontario drivers will be involved in an auto accident at some point during their life. Therefore, it is important to know the rules.

Accidents can be very stressful. Getting in one can make it hard for you to think clearly. You will probably have several questions, such as:

  • Do I have to report an accident?
  • Do I need to call the police?
  • What about my insurance company?

To help you make the right decisions, listed below are some things to note.

Recommended Reading: Can I Sue The Police For Not Investigating

What Is In A Police Accident Report

The Balance / Julie Bang

If you get into an auto accident and file a claim with your insurance company, one of the first things they will likely ask you is whether you made a police accident report. If you can get one, you are probably better off.

If the police do not come to the accident scene, you should be able to visit your local police station or DMV and fill one out. The key is to make sure that the information on the report is accurate before an inaccuracy becomes a problem and potentially costs you money.

What information is on a police auto accident report?

Why Would I Need A Police Report

Do I Need A Police Report After A Car Accident? | The Barnes Firm Injury Attorneys

The auto insurance company will ask you if youve filed a police report, but they shouldnt require it unless a driver flees the scene. There are circumstances in which the other driver may wish to avoid filing a police report for a number of reasons. This may not be a good idea.

The other driver may offer you a cash settlement to avoid bringing the police in. You may not be able to adequately determine the nature of the damage on your vehicle at the scene of the accident.

This is the first reason to avoid making a settlement with somebody for your own protection.

If the person does not want to have a police report filed, it may be that they are driving without insurance. You want to try to obtain contact information and file a police report. If the person attempts to drive off, make sure to obtain the license plate.

It is your responsibility to report a crime if you witness something in action. If damage is done to your vehicle and a police report is not filed, you should still be able to make a successful claim.

The most noticeable difference will be the speed at which your claim is processed.

Recommended Reading: How To Make Police Report For Identity Theft

Alberta Car Accident Stats

Alberta traffic collisions are common. There are about 385 collisions in the province each day. These are just the reported collisions. In 2015 alone, there were :

  • 140,705 collisions

Where and how do car accidents in Alberta happen?

  • 84.1% occur in urban areas 15.9% in rural areas
  • 26.4% are intersection related
  • 3.4% of accidents involve a driver who has been drinking 0.3% impaired by drugs
  • 25.7% of drivers in fatal collisions were reported as travelling at an unsafe speed
  • Saturday recorded the most fatal collisions at 53 and Friday recorded the most injury collisions at 2,288

Dont Help The Other Drivers Insurance Company

If another drivers insurance company contacts you, be polite but be cautious. Tell the insurer to contact your insurance company or your lawyer for details. Never provide a recorded statement. Never sign anything. A release or settlement offer, for instance, should be carefully reviewed by an attorney first.

Recommended Reading: What Do You Do To Become A Police Officer

Do I Have To Report An Accident To The Police

One of the first things you should do after any car accident is notify the police even if it seems like a minor collision. Following a wreck, you will need evidence in order to file a successful claim with your insurance company. If you pursue compensation in a personal injury lawsuit, you will need evidence to prove that the other driver caused the accident.

Many times, the police report is a crucial element of building a personal injury claim. Police reports document that your accident happened, when and where it happened, and in some cases, they can help prove that the other driver was negligent.

If the police did not respond to the scene of your accident, either because they were too busy, because they werent called, or because your collision seemed to be very minor, you may still be required to report your accident. In Wisconsin, any accident that results in injury or $1,000 or more in damages must be reported to the police within ten days of the crash. You also have ten days to report wrecks to the police that involve damage to state or government-owned property, other than a vehicle.

How Does A Police Report Affect A Car Accident Claim

Do I need to file a police report? Monmouth Ocean County ...

Not only can a police report provide important leads for an independent investigation of a crash, but the report itself may also be used as evidence in a car accident lawsuit. The investigating officer may also give testimony about the investigation. The report can help refresh his memory later when he is deposed or testifies in court.

However, the officer does not have final say on who has civil liability for a car accident. The police report is the responding officers opinion of the crash not necessarily what actually happened. Witnesses to the accident are vital to prove fault.

At Riddle & Brantley, we have investigators on staff who can investigate a car accident, gathering evidence, interviewing potential witnesses, and working with law enforcement to prove liability and strengthen your case.

For a FREE consultation with a North Carolina car accident lawyer, please call 1-800-525-7111.

There is no obligation and we dont get paid unless you do. If we dont recover compensation for you, you wont pay any attorney fees.

Call 1-800-525-7111 and lets review your claim.

Don’t Miss: How To Report Someone To The Police Anonymously

More articles

Popular Articles