Your Insurance Company Might Require A Police Report
Read your car insurance policy carefully. If you need to rely on your own insurance to pay for accident damages or injuries, it may require a timely made police report in order to make a claim.
For these reasons, it is preferable to err on the side of calling the police even when it might not be necessary rather than not doing so to save time and finding out later that you should have called.
What Are The Benefits Of Filing A Police Report
Here are some of the benefits of filing a police report after a car accident :
- Reporting : You will have an accurate account of the car accident details. You will have a copy of your car accident police report form.
- Legal Issues : You are protected if legal issues arise.
- Proves Fault : It can help prove fault, and prove you are not at fault in an accident.
- Protection : It helps protect you from a scam or insurance fraud.
- Law : You may be legally required to file a car accident police report. Dont leave anything to chance.
- Peace Of Mind : It provides you with peace of mind in knowing you did everything you could.
Does The Law Require Me To Call Police In This Particular Situation
In Florida, the law is unambiguous on when you must get the police involved. Always call the police in any of the following situations:
- The accident involved bodily injury or death.
- The accident involved an intoxicated driver or a hit-and-run.
- The property damage from the accident appears to exceed $500.
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Do I Have To Call The Police If I Have A Car Accident In New York
The simple answer is, Yes. The Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York does not require a person involved in a motor vehicle accident to call the police, however, its the smart thing to do on several levels.
The Police Accident Report contains a plethora of important information necessary to go forward with a personal injury or property damage claim. When a police officer comes to the scene of an accident, he/she will write down the names and addresses of the drivers and owners of the vehicles, the year, make and model of each vehicle, the name of the insurance carriers and the insureds policy numbers. In addition, the officer will write down each drivers version of the facts.
Many insurance representatives become skeptical and difficult to deal with if a Police Accident Report was not created. The bodily injury and property damage adjustors have been trained to sniff out fraudulent claims. When they hear that the police did not come to the scene, a red flag goes up and you often have a battle on your hands.
Most people will feel compelled to report the accident to their insurance carrier due to the creation and filing of a Police Accident Report. This helps us get the ball rolling at an early stage of the case.
Failing To Report An Accident Can Also Create Challenges For Your Insurance Claim
Finally, failing to report an accident promptly can lead to difficulties with insurance. Without an official record of where and when the accident happened, you could struggle to secure the coverage you deserve.
There are other ways to prove that you are entitled to coverage. However, when dealing with one or more insurance companies, it is best to avoid unnecessary challenges if at all possible.
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You Will Likely Need To Report The Accident To Your Insurance Company
Insurance companies typically require their policyholders to report all accidents regardless of severity and regardless of fault. If you fail to report an accident promptly, this could result in a denial of coverage.
Additionally, since New York is a no fault auto insurance state, you will need to report the accident to your insurer in order to seek coverage for your accident-related losses.
Who Will Pay For The Damage To My Vehicle
Often times, clients wish to pursue property damage through the at-fault parties insurance carrier. You can also pursue property damage with your own carrier, but you may be subject to a deductible depending on your policy. Sometimes, your insurance may be willing to waive the deductible and go after the at-fault parties carrier directly, or reimburse you later on if they make a recovery of the property damage cost.
If you are in need of a rental car, but do not have rental coverage on your own policy, it may be best to go through the other carrier. However, this may take several days or even weeks, as the insurance company will want a copy of the police report and likely will want to speak to their insured and any witnesses. The experienced attorneys and Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers can help guide you through this process, with no fee for property damage assistance.
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The Insurance Company May Request A Police Report
Even if you are not legally required to report the crash to police, your insurance company may still request an accident report when you file a claim. This official record is especially useful in cases where there was significant damage, and it may also help to speed up the claims process. If there is no report, you may find yourself in a he said versus she said tug of war. To protect yourself and your legal interests, it is always a good idea to contact the police.
What Are The Steps To Take After A Car Accident Where The Other Driver Didn’t Stop
Failure to stop after an accident is often called a hit and run’ or dent and run’. It’s a criminal offence that carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison.
If you’ve been injured in a hit and run, as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or any other type of road user, there is a system in place to help you.
The Motor Insurance Bureau is the organisation run by UK insurers to compensate people injured on the road in challenging circumstances. These circumstances are where:
- The other driver failed to stop and drove off without you getting their details or registration number.
- For instance, this could be because the car was stolen or on fake plates.
- You’ve been a victim of terrorism involving a vehicle.
We can help, so call us on for a confidential chat. We’ll be able to advise if you’re eligible to make a car accident compensation claim. If you decide to go ahead, the process works like this:
- We’ll connect you with one of our specialist car accident lawyers.
- They’ll investigate the details and decide if they can take on your claim.
- They’ll handle your claim on a no win no fee basis and handle it directly with the MIB.
- If the claim succeeds, the MIB will make you a personal injury compensation award.
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Giving Details After A Car Accident
When you’re involved in a car accident youre obliged to give your name and address to anyone else involved.
You should stop and give your details if you crash into something on or near the road even if there aren’t any other people involved. If you hit a parked car, for example, you should leave your details on the windscreen.
Avoid saying sorry or accepting blame for the accident until you know precisely what happened as it could count against you later on.
Car accidents should also be reported to the police within 24 hours. Failure to do so could result in a fine, penalty points or even disqualification.
Contact Gruber Law Offices Today
If you have recently been in a car accident, contact our personal injury offices right away for assistance. We offer free case evaluations and have a huge team of attorneys and professional staff ready to serve you. Even if you arent sure that you have a viable case, reach out for more information before you decide how to proceed. Thank you for visiting and we are excited to serve you!
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Do You Have To Call Police After Car Accident
As with most legal questions, the answer is it depends. Florida Statutes section 316.066 establishes when its required to obtain a written police report when youre involved in a car crash. Specifically, it states that under certain circumstances a long-form should be completed and submitted to the police department within 10 days after an investigation is completed by the law enforcement officer who investigated the scene of the accident. For this rule to apply, the car accident must fall under one of the following categories:
- Any of the drivers involved were under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Any of the motor vehicles involved were totaled or had to be towed
- Someone involved in the accident is complaining of pain or discomfort
- A commercial motor vehicle was involved
- There was a fatality at the scene
If The Police Are On Their Way
If you call the police, and they do send an officer to the scene, but it’s a minor car accident, the agency may give it a low priority. It could take up to one hour for an officer to arrive. It’s important to wait for them, of course, but what should you do while you are waiting?
- assess the situation
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Do Document The Accident Scene
Before they are towed away, take photos of the exterior and interior of all vehicles involved. You should also get photos of the vehicle license plates, skid marks, broken glass, nearby traffic controls and the surrounding area. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver involved in the crash. Get witness names and contact information as well.
Can I Make A Car Accident Claim On Someone Else’s Behalf
Yes, you can. This usually happens when the injury victim is under 18 or an adult unable to make the claim themselves because they are mentally or physically incapable. This could be as a result of the accident injury.
The person who does this is called a litigation friend. They are normally a parent, family member, a trusted carer, guardian or an official appointee. They work with the solicitor in no win no fee car accident claims to make all decisions on the claimant’s behalf, always looking after their best interests.
If this reflects your situation, call us on for a confidential chat. We’ll be able to help.
The rules for making a no win no fee car accident claim are:
- You have three years from the date of injury to begin a claim.
- If you’re acting as a litigation friend for someone whose psychological or physical ability is so compromised they can’t claim themselves, then there are no time limits.
- This could be because of the car accident injuries or because of a pre-existing condition.
- For children or minors any age under 18 at the time of the injury, you can make a claim on their behalf any time up to their 18th birthday.
- If no claim is made, they then have three years from their 18th to their 21st birthdays to claim as an adult.
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What Happens If You Dont Call The Police After An Accident
Law enforcement constantly has to deal with calls regarding auto accidents in every city. This is such a common occurrence that some departments even have employees or divisions that dedicate all of their time to auto accident response and investigations. These police officers provide accident reports and other materials during their response at the scene. Insurance companies and lawyers who handle accidents use these materials for a number of important reasons, including paying out claims to accident victims or proving fault in a civil lawsuit.
There are standard procedures that all drivers must follow after an accident. Avoiding these responsibilities can cause issues later which may include fines, penalties from your insurance company, or even criminal charges.
Proper procedures following all accidents
While it is not necessary to contact the police following every car accident, at minimum you must make contact with the other driver and exchange information. Depending on your insurance company, they may want you to contact the police regardless of the severity of the accident. Most insurance companies provide instructions on insurance cards or by phone as to how to respond after every accident. It is important to follow these instructions, as this will help your insurance claim get processed quickly and evidence from the scene may also be used if you need to file a lawsuit against the other driver and their insurance company.
When is a driver required to call the police?
What Should I Do If I Hit An Animal
It’s always distressing, but if you hit the following animals, the Road Traffic Act 1988 says you must notify the police. Not to do so is a criminal offence.
- Dog, donkey or mule, horse, goat, pig, sheep or cow.
Cats and dogs
- If you’re aware you’ve hit a dog or a cat, stop if it’s safe to do so.
- Move the animal to a safe place, if it can be moved.
- Keep it warm with a blanket or coat if you have one.
- If it has a collar tag, call the owner and take it to them or the nearest vet, if possible.
- If it’s a dog, make sure you report it to the local police within 24 hours by dialling 101.
- The vet will check to see if a collarless domestic pet has a microchip ID. All dogs must be microchipped by law. Mandatory microchipping for cats is under review.
- If the owners can’t be identified, the vet will usually file a missing pet report with the local council.
- Historically, you don’t need to report hitting a cat to the police.
- However, legislation is now under consideration to correct this so be aware that your legal duty as a road user may change.
If you find yourself with no alternative, report road accidents with proscribed animals to the police immediately and to a local vet or the RSPCA’s emergency service on 0300 1234 999 if they need urgent care.
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Who To Call After A Car Accident
It is crucial to contact an attorney immediately to find out key details concerning your specific case. The statute of limitations can range between 1 to 4 years for car accidents in different states, so it is better to handle your car accident sooner rather than later in order to get the best compensation possible.
You can call your car insurance agent and report the car accident even if it was a minor accident. Provide the insurance agent with general details of the car accident, avoiding very specific details. Your insurance company will get a copy of the police report for the specifics.
If you speak with the other drivers insurance company, remember that you arent required to provide any details of the accident. In fact, you arent required by law to answer any questions at all. The other agent may try to trip you up, especially if the car accident was their clients fault.
If I Get In A Car Accident Do I Have To Call The Police
Hopefully, you will never find yourself in a serious car accident but if you do, there are a few reasons why its important to notify your local police department. Not only are police reports helpful to plaintiffs in personal injury cases, but depending on the circumstances, failure to contact the police could actually get you into trouble with the law. In this article, Philadelphia car accident lawyer Brent Wieand will explain how police reports are used, when Pennsylvania and New Jerseys laws require police notification, and whether its necessary to call the police after a minor accident with no injuries.
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