What To Do After A Minor Car Accident
If you’re in a minor car accident where no one is hurt and there’s little damage to anyone’s car, it may be tempting to drive away and go on with your day. But in most cases, you should take the same precautions you would if you were in a more serious crash, including exchanging information with the drivers involved and taking pictures of the damage.
Accidents Resulting In Injuries
In accidents where injuries have been sustained, theres substantial damage to the vehicles, or where there have been violations of motor laws, the officer is required to complete a police report.
In this instance, you should take down the name and badge number of the officer and the police agency, as well as the report number if possible, so that you can acquire a copy of the accident report after it’s been filed.
It is likely that youll be charged a small amount for the report, but it’s worth it, as this is a vital source of information and evidence that is relied upon heavily during the insurance claim or car accident lawsuit process.
Do I Have To Call The Police After A Car Accident In Texas
Nobody expects to be involved in a car accident, but even the most diligent drivers are not immune to collisions. In fact, the average motorist is involved in a crash once every 18 years. If you’ve been in a wreck, you may be wondering, do I have to call the police after a car accident in Texas?
As you may already know, the aftermath of a serious wreck is a nerve-racking and stressful time. But it is important that you remain calm because your statements and actions at the scene can have a huge impact on the outcome of your subsequent personal injury claim. Also, there are steps that you are legally required to take after a serious crash or you risk having your drivers license suspended and facing a fine.
If you were involved in a collision and youre not sure what to do next, contact Chelsie King Garza, P.C. for a free consultation. Unlike other attorneys who mill out cases without delicacy, Chelsie will give you and your family the personalized attention that you deserve, returning your calls and emails quickly and making herself available to answer your questions after office hours. Call 713-893-8808 to schedule a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Houston.
Do I Have to Call the Police After a Car Accident in Texas?
Importance of Contacting a Car Accident Attorney Right Away
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Have Questions About Reporting An Accident To The Police Ask A Lawyer
Even a minor traffic collision can turn into an insurance nightmare. Perhaps the other party changed their story after the accident or their insurance company is disputing the claims. Contact an experienced car accident attorney near you to have someone on your side to ensure that your rights are protected throughout the settlement process.
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Report Your Accident And Make A Claim
Before you contact us following an accident, make sure you’ve got all the important details ready:
- Your policy number
- Registration number of the cars involved
- Driver’s name, address and phone number of each car involved
- Each driver’s insurance details if you have them
Once the incident report has been taken by your Accident Assist claims advisor, they’ll take you through the next steps and the options to deal with your claim.
These will include the AA management of you claim from start to finish, arranging repairs to your vehicle and providing a replacement vehicle during the repairs. Or they’ll notify your insurer who will arrange the repairs and a courtesy car.
If you need to contact us, you can call:
- AA Car Insurance customer 0800 269 622
- AA breakdown Member 0800 048 2678
Alternatively, you can choose to contact your insurer directly. Their phone number will be on your insurance documents.
What if I don’t make a claim?You should still tell Accident Assist or your insurer about the accident. Why? Because the other driver may try to make a claim without you knowing.
There are reasons why you may choose not to claim:
- To keep your no claim discount intact, if you haven’t added ‘protected no claim discount’ on your policy.
- If you decide to pay for the repairs yourself.
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What Not To Do When Youre In An Auto Accident
Now that you know what to do after a minor car accident, and understand the importance of reporting an accident and how to file a motor vehicle accident report, here are some things NOT to do after an auto accident :
Car Accident Police Reports
In cases involving injuries, substantial damage to the vehicles, or motor vehicle law violations, the officer will prepare a police report in connection with the crash. Make sure to get the name and badge number of the officer and the police agency that the officer represents so you can get a copy of the accident report after it’s written . Get the report number if it’s available. You might have to pay a small fee to get the report, but it’s worth it. Everyone involved in a car insurance claim and a car accident lawsuit relies heavily on the police report.
Police reports typically document any physical evidence at the scene of an accident and any witness statements. The report will list what traffic citations, if any, an officer issued and maybe even the officer’s opinion about who caused the accident. In other words, police reports are powerful evidence that can help you speed up the insurance claims process or win your lawsuit in court.
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Must I Call Police If I Am Involved In A South Carolina Traffic Accident
Yes, you should call the police if you are involved in a traffic accident in South Carolina. The police will prepare a traffic accident report including contact information on all parties involved in the accident and the police officers opinion of how the accident happened.
If you suffered severe injuries in the accident in South Carolina, you should consult with a North Charleston personal injury lawyer to discuss filing a claim for damages. Your North Charleston personal injury lawyer will need the traffic accident report to help determine issues of negligence.
Additionally, according to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles , you must provide proof of insurance if your vehicle has been in an accident that caused property damage, injuries or death. The police officer will provide all drivers with the FR-10 insurance verification form, which their insurance companies must complete. The deadline for returning the FR-10 form to the DMV is 15 days after the accident in South Carolina, and it must be returned whether or not you caused the accident. If you miss the 15-day deadline, you could face suspension of your drivers license and registration. You will also face suspension if you lack automobile insurance.
After the police officer investigates the accident in South Carolina, he or she will send a traffic accident report to the DMV. To get a copy of the traffic accident report, you will need to complete the FR-50 form and pay a $6 fee.
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Will The Police Come To The Scene Of The Accident
It depends. Police may or may not come to the scene of an accident based on many factors including the amount of damage, if there are injuries, and the location of the accident. Call the police, and they will let you know if they are en route to the scene or if you should visit an accident reporting centre to file a police report for the accident.
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How Do You Know You Can Trust The Other Driver
Not calling the police is risky because there is no way you can know for sure if you should trust the other driver, particularly if he or she may have been at fault for the accident.
Even if you exchange information at the scene of an accident, there is no way for you to verify that the other drivers information is accurate. If he or she gave you false information, you may have no way of finding this person to try to hold him or her accountable.
Additionally, you will have no official record to support your claim if the other driver denies responsibility for the accident.
Do You Have To Call The Police After A Minor Car Accident In Pennsylvania
Home » Frequently Asked Questions » Do You Have to Call the Police After a Minor Car Accident in Pennsylvania?
After a minor car accident in Pennsylvania, you may not have to call the police. State law only requires that you file an accident report in specific situations, including if someone was hurt or if you were in a hit and run accident, among other scenarios.
However, just because you may not be required to call the police, does not mean you shouldnt. Filing a police report after a car accident, even a minor one, can impact on your ability to recover fair compensation for your car accident damages.
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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.
Report Your Accident To Your Broker Or Insurance Company As Soon As You Can
Your broker or agent is there to help you. They will need some basic information about the accident to begin to process your insurance claim. Be ready to provide :
- Insurance Policy Information : The policy owners name and policy number.
- Information On The Car : Have the year, make and model of your vehicle ready.
- Details About The Accident : Provide all the information that you have written down or can remember.
- Information About Car And Driver Of The Other Vehicle : Have on hand the other persons drivers license information, insurance info, license plate info.
- Reporting Office Information : Have the name and badge of the reporting office if there was one.
All of this information will be on the form you fill out at the accident reporting centre.
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Get In Touch With The Experienced Insurance Brokers From Brokerlink
Road accidents can happen when you least expect them. So, you must take extra precautions when driving or crossing the street and make sure you have the right insurance coverage!
If youre looking for car insurance, BrokerLink is here to help! Our brokers can answer any questions you have, get you multiple quotes instantly and make sure you have the coverage you need at a great price. Get in touch with us today by phone, online or in person at one of our local branches.
Filing A Police Report After An Accident
If there are any injuries and the police don’t respond to the accident, file your own police report as soon as possible. It is not unusual for the at-fault party to accept responsibility right after the accident, only to change their story later.
This list of additional measures will help if you file a police report:
In busy metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles, the police may not take a car accident report unless there are injuries. If this happens, try filing an accident report with the DMV to have your statement and evidence recorded as soon after the accident as possible.
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Does An Alberta Accident Report Have An Impact On Your Insurance
Filing an accident report will not necessarily increase rates. Being at-fault for the accident is what impacts your rates.
Police reports do not determine liability. Police accident reports also do not impact your insurance companys assessment of the accident. Your insurer determines fault based on the information about the accident.
Do Not Make Admissions
In the heat of the moment, people involved in accidents often say they are sorry or attempt to assess blame. It is important not to admit fault after an accident because those admissions can be used against you in court.
Other than gathering information, you should only talk to the officer at the scene . When speaking to the officer, only relate facts, not assessments of fault.
Often after the accident you will be contacted by the other partys insurance carrier. It is extremely important that you do not make statements to the insurer, the other drivers insurance company is not on your side, no matter how nice they seem, and is trying to get you to make harmful admissions or settle your claim for the least money possible. If the other partys insurer calls you, tell them you do you wish to speak at this time and get their name and phone number.
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Should You Call The Police
One of the first actions that should be taken after an accident is to check the safety and well-being of all involved. See if anyone is hurt and needs immediate medical assistance. If anyone is injured, call 911.
Arizona law requires a police officer, not the drivers involved, to report an accident any time the crash results in injury or death, and/or vehicle damage or damage to any other property in an apparent amount of at least $1,000.
Under Arizona law, you are required to stay at the scene of an accident until the police arrive. If you leave before officers arrive at the scene, you may be guilty of a felony and could have your drivers license suspended.
If youre involved in an accident and not sure if an injury is deemed serious or property damage is $1000 or more, it is best to err on the side of caution and report the accident to the police. It is also highly recommended that anytime youre involved in a car accident you contact an attorney immediately. They will help you with the legal ins and outs and make sure your case is handled to get you the best possible outcome.
Tribunal Cites Police Report To Contradict Applicants Version Of Events
Tribunal Member Kate Campbell ultimately dismissed the applicants claim, finding the drivers account of what took place more credible. First, Campbell noted the applicant did not provide any report or account of the accident at the time the events occurred, or until he submitted his dispute application to the tribunal. Even when the applicant did file a claim, he neglected to mention what happened at the intersection, but later admitted it in additional submissions to the tribunal.
In fact, the applicant effectively changed his story, admitting there was a second accident that resulted in no damage while maintaining there was an initial accident that caused damage. Campbell found this story inconsistent, stating it was difficult to understand how a driver in a passenger vehicle could simultaneously take action to stop a tractor-trailer from leaving and avoid a collision with that same tractor-trailer.
The witness statements taken by the officer further confirmed the truck drivers account of events. According to the police report, the witnesses all said the applicant gunned his vehicle off the red light and his speed caused him to lose control. The applicant presented no compelling evidence to the contrary. In fact, the only additional evidence he offered was surveillance video taken from the parking lot, but Campbell said that did not show the that the tractor-trailer driver forced the applicant off the road and into the median.
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Trust Southshore Injury Attorneys With Your Ruskin Car Accident Claim
After a car accident, it is important that you find a qualified Ruskin car accident attorney to handle your personal injury claim. The attorneys at SouthShore Injury Attorneys handle only personal injury claims and are experienced in representing injury victims throughout the State of Florida. If youve suffered injuries in a Ruskin car accident, contact SouthShore Injury Attorneys at 419-3866 for a free consultation.
How Long After A Car Accident Can You Still File A Police Report
States have their own laws about how soon a police report must be made after a car accident. Most require that the accident be recorded immediately, which is why it’s so important to call the police no matter how minor the incident may seem. Other states, like Ohio, range from a couple of days up to six months. If you are unsure, look at your local laws or call the police and ask if it is necessary.
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