Contact Your Claims Adjuster
Now youâve reported the accident âpromptly,â and youâve laid the necessary groundwork to file any claims. Your provider will assign you a claims adjuster who will help take you through the process as well as investigate your accident and any follow-up to it, including repairs and medical care.
Review Your Insurance Policy
You should know exactly what you are covered for. While your insurance broker or company can provide you with this information, the claims process will be less stressful for you if you clearly understand what your specific policy will do for you. Read through your policy and understand your coverage limits.
How Long After An Accident Can You File A Claim
Once you’ve reported the accident to your insurance company, you will have some time to file the claim. Just how much time depends on your insurance company, state, and type of coverage you have.
Some insurers say you should file a claim in as little as 24 hours after reporting the accident, while others give you as long as 2 to 3 years or more depending on the type of coverage you have.
However, the longer you wait to file a claim, the more likely it is the claim will be denied. That’s because there is a higher likelihood the damage came from another incident. It may be difficult to prove the damage or injury is from the accident.
If you’ve previously reported the accident but didn’t file a claim, your report can help support your claim and gives you a greater chance of your claim being approved.
What if you file a claim too late?
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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.
Let A Car Accident Attorney Review Your Police Report Today
Car accident injury attorneys spend a huge portion of their workdays understanding and evaluating the facts and circumstances of motor vehicle collisions. They know their way around a police report what it shows, what it doesnt, and what impact it might have on obtaining compensation for a client. After you have obtained the police report from your car accident, give it to an experienced motor vehicle accident injury attorney to learn about how it affects your rights.
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After A Car Accident: How To Obtain A Police Report
Getting into a car accident can be a very traumatic experience. Not only do you have to recover from the shock and begin the recovery process, but you have to deal with the insurance company. And one of the first things they will ask for is the police report.
If you have never been in a serious car accident or truck accident before, you may not know how to go about this. After all, youre busy fielding calls from the insurance companies, making doctors appointments, and maybe arranging to take time off of work. Who has time to fetch a police report?
What you may not realize is the police report will have vital information that you need in order to receive fair compensation for your injuries. It answers one of the most important questions you will face after a car crash what happened?
S You Can Take To Correct A Mistake In The Police Report After Your Car Accident
While not admissible in court for legal reasons, the police report regarding your auto crash is vital if you need to file a claim with the negligent drivers insurance company. It should be one of the first documents that the insurance adjuster requests. It contains important information such as:
- Details of your crash, such as the date, time, and location
- Contact information for any drivers involved in the accident and any witnesses
- Statements from any drivers or witnesses that were involved
- Damage to the vehicles
- Any injuries that occurred
- Officers narrative of how the crash occurred, his conclusions as to the cause, and whether a citation was issued to either driver
- Pictures of the accident scene and the damage to any vehicles
- Diagramwhich could show the scene and point of impact of the motor vehicles
The report and the police officers opinion about the cause of the crash can be extremely persuasive when settling your claim. If you must take your case to a jury trial, the officer could testify about his findings at your trial. However, not all police reports are completely accurate. What happens when you get a copy of the report and find that it contains errors?
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Does Your Car Insurance Company Report Accidents To The Dmv
In most cases, your car insurance company does not report accidents to the Department of Motor Vehicles . However, depending on your state of residence, either you or the police are probably required to file a report with the DMV, regardless of whether your insurance company gets involved. In addition, your insurance contract likely requires you to alert your insurance company about any collision you are involved in, even if you do not make a claim.
The primary reason your insurance company would notify the DMV about your driving activity is if your insurance does not meet certain standards. In the United States, drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, even if they do not carry insurance to cover damage to their own vehicles.
Why Do Officers Make Errors In Police Reports
Police officers are human, and like the rest of us, sometimes make mistakes. In addition, the police arrive at the scene after the wreck has occurred. The officers often rely on conflicting versions of what occurred, few witnesses, and little physical evidence. The errors fall into two categories:
- Factual errors. Errors of fact often involve the basic factual details, such as the date of the accident or a vehicles make or model. These mistakes can be relatively easy to fix.
- Disputed information. These types of mistakes are usually not factual mistakes, but rather disputes about mischaracterizing a statement you, the other driver, or a witness made. These errors can be much more difficult to correct than factual ones.
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Meet The District Attorney
Your next option is to speak with the district attorney assigned to the case, if there has been a DA assigned. Explain to the DA the reasons why you wish to drop the charges you filed with the report. If the reasons are that the wrong person was charged or that you made an error in filing the report, you will need to provide evidence to support your claims.
What If You Dont Know Which Law Enforcement Agency Responded To The Crash
This is common when someone is shaken after an accident. Its easy for the entire experience to become a blur. But that doesnt mean you cant get your report.
If you want to track down the agency, it will either be the police, sheriff, or Highway Patrol for the location where the crash happened. You can call each of those three agencies separately and ask them, and typically find out who has your report in an hour or less. Alternatively, you can use the website above to look up your report by location, date, and VIN number . The website does not require you to know which law enforcement agency responded.
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Do I Need To Report A Car Accident
In the case of minor accidents, in which no insurance claim will be filed by the drivers involved, you may not be required to report an accident.
However, most states require you report an accident that results in injury or involves more than $1,000 to $2,500+ in property damage . The report can be made to either the police, DMV, or your insurance company.
Some damages or injuries may not be present right away and could take days or weeks to appear. Reporting the accident ensures that useful evidence is gathered for any claims you or the other driver may file with the insurance company.
When To Report A Car Accident To The Police
The first step after any car accident is to call 911.
For serious crashes, such as when someone is injured or killed, property is damaged, traffic is blocked, the other driver is intoxicated, or there is debris on the road, law enforcement and any necessary emergency medical services will be dispatched to the accident scene. The police officer will write up an accident report for you.
For minor collisions, such as a fender bender, law enforcement may decline to respond to the accident scene. If a police officer does not investigate, no police report will be filed, so you should report the accident as soon as possible.
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What Is A Police Report
First, it helps to understand what a police report is and how its used after your accident.
Police, like most other government employees, spend much of their time completing paperwork. This is done to ensure uniformity and procedural correctness in their work. A police report on a car accident is part of that process.
A police report is simply a report generated by the investigating officer . The report is a standardized summary of the details of the collision so that future reviewers of the case can make sense of the details easily.
Can Someone Else File The Report For Me
If you have hired a personal injury lawyer, he or she should be able to handle the filing of a police report for you. Your lawyer can help you understand exactly what needs to be filed in your situation and the process for meeting any procedural requirements that might apply.
If you are not represented by an attorney, your auto insurance provider may or may not provide some limited assistance with filing a police report after an accident. However, you shouldnt assume that the insurance company is taking care of these requirements for you, nor should you depend on them without following up for confirmation of compliance. Ultimately, you are responsible for meeting your filing obligations under state law.
If you have a disability or were injured in the accident and are physically or mentally unable to complete MV-104 within 10 days of the accident, any capable passenger in your vehicle can do so on your behalf. Likewise, if you are incapacitated and you were not the owner of the vehicle you were driving, the owner may complete and submit MV-104 on your behalf.
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Do Contact A Car Accident Lawyer
You have only a limited time to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit after a traffic accident in Illinois. You should not delay contacting a lawyer.
At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we offer initial consultations that are free, confidential and carry no obligations. The bottom line is that we want you to get legal help right away.
When you engage a car accident lawyer after a car wreck, that lawyer will work hard to protect your interests. No one else will fill this role. Even your insurance company is looking out for its bottom line first as it determines a settlement for your claim.
Your attorney can investigate your case, file all necessary paperwork and seek compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and more.
For more information, call Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., today toll free or contact us through our convenient online form. Were ready to help you.
Obtaining Copies Of Police Accident Reports In Pennsylvania And New Jersey
Under Pennsylvania and New Jersey law, anyone involved in an accident has the right to obtain copies of the police accident report. The public can also access police accident reports, subject to limitations that protect the privacy of individuals involved in accidents.
Here are the basic guidelines for obtaining copies of a police accident report as an accident victim, from two state and two local police departments. If you do not see the police department that investigated your accident listed below, call the general information number at that department and ask for instructions. Every police department should have a relatively simple procedure for obtaining a police accident report.
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Why Do I Need A Police Report
The crash report for your accident will contain crucial information about your case. The police take the time to investigate the accident, inspect the vehicles, talk to witnesses, and take photographs of the scene. All this information will be included in the report, including the following information:
- An approximate date, time, and location of the accident
- All contact information of the parties involved, including the insurance information
- Any information as provided by witnesses of the accident
- The damage to the vehicles
- The conditions of the scene such as the state of the road, weather, and visibility
- The statements provided by the other party and witnesses
- Any citations or violations that were issued by the officer
Also included in the police report will be opinions by the police as to what was the cause of the crash and who may be at fault. Despite what the officer believes, remember that your insurance company will draw its own conclusions about what had occurred.
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.
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Can A Personal Injury Attorney Obtain A Car Accident Report On My Behalf
Finally, if you have not obtained the accident report before you meet with a lawyer, have no fear. Your car accident lawyer can obtain the report through one of the above methods for you.
We always prefer to have the report at the time we first meet with a potential client so we can understand exactly how the accident allegedly occurred. Knowing what the at-fault driver received as far as citations is also valuable information to have at the time of the first meeting.
If possible, we will obtain the police report from buycrash.com before the first meeting if the client has not obtained it yet and it is available. Meeting with us before the report is available is not the end of the world, however. We can always obtain the report after our first meeting.
When Do I Have To File A Police Report After A Car Accident
After being in a car accident in New York, you must file a police report about the accident within ten days. Each party involved must file a police report and submit it to the DMV. The only time when a police report isnt required is if the property damage amounts to less than $1,000. If the property damage is less than $1,000 and there are no injuries, then all you need to do is exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. That information is essential if you need to file a claim following the accident. Be sure that the information you collect is written in a safe spot so it cant get lost.
If you hit a parked vehicle, then you must locate the owner to exchange information. Sometimes, this isnt possible when the owner of the car is nowhere in sight. If you cant find the owner, call the police to file a report. When the owner discovers the collision and calls the police later, you wont have to worry about a possible hit-and-run charge because you already reported the damage to the police.
Its not always easy to determine the level of property damage and whether it totals $1,000 or not. If youre not sure, its still best to play it safe and file the police report anyway. While some might not want to go through the trouble of calling the police and seeing the DMV, our best Buffalo car accident lawyers say having this report can help tremendously.
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For Collisions On The Nys Thruway
Requests for copies of an MV-104A for collisions investigated by the New York State Police that occurred on the New York State Thruway and its subsidiary arterials must be made to New York State Thruway Authority.
The form required to request a copy of the report is available online at: www.thruway.ny.gov.
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Rules For Reporting Alberta Accidents In The Traffic Safety Act
Section 69 of the Traffic Safety Act states the duty of drivers involved in a traffic accident in Alberta :
69 Where an accident in which a vehicle is involved occurs on a highway, the driver or other person in charge of any vehicle that was directly or indirectly involved in the accident shall :
remain at the scene of the accident or, if the person has left the scene of the accident, immediately return to the scene of the accident unless otherwise directed by a peace officer, render all reasonable assistance, and produce in writing to anyone sustaining loss or injury, to any peace officer and to any witness all or such of the following information as is requested :
that persons name and address the number of that persons operators licence the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle the licence plate number of the vehicle a financial responsibility card issued in respect of that vehicle.
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