Obtaining A Police Report
The best way to report an accident is to call 9-1-1. at the time of the accident. Get the name and contact information for the officer who completed the report, along with the report number, and ask them how a copy of the police report can be obtained later.
Certain helpful tips should be kept in mind when making your statements for the report. It is important to be truthful, however, never make any statements regarding fault or assigning blame whether it be admitting fault or assigning blame to someone else.
Also, do not answer questions for which an answer is not known. If the interviewed individual provides an answer that he or she knows may or may not be true, and that information is later refuted, that could be used against him or her.
A police report should include an accurate description of what happened in the accident, how many people were in the car at the time of the accident, names and contact information for any witnesses, injuries that are being experienced, signs of property damage to vehicles involved, driver insurance information, and vehicle information.
If a police report is not filed, this failure to report can be a problem later if an injured party wants to file a claim. When in doubt, it is best to go ahead and contact the police, even if an insurance claim is not filed.
Should I Call My Insurance Company After A Minor Accident
Yes. It’s essential to contact your insurer if you’re in an accident with another vehicle because it’s not always possible to determine how severe someone’s injuries are or how badly a car is damaged at the scene. No matter who was at fault, your insurer can work with the other insurance company to sort out the details and make sure there’s no delay in processing claims that are filed.
It’s important to contact your insurer if you’re in an accident with another vehicle, even if the accident is minor.
What If A Police Officer Does Not Respond To The Accident Scene
The police may not respond to an accident that does not involve injuries or substantial property damage. For example, the police may not show up to a grocery store parking lot where two insured drivers got into a fender bender and neither suffered injuries.
However, you can still file a police report for auto insurance purposes. If the other driver is willing, you may go to the nearest police department to file a report. In this way, you will have a police report to give your auto insurer if you plan to file an insurance claim.
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Could The Accident Have Caused Injuries That Are Not Yet Apparent
Even if neither driver appears injured, some injuries are not apparent right away. This is another situation where you should err on the side of caution. If you think you suffered an injury, you should get medical attention.
A doctor can assess your injuries and provide documentation that helps us link them to your accident. Medical records can also give us an idea of how much compensation you stand to recover. Remember, some injuries cause ongoing complications, and you may require long-term medical care.
You will want your settlement or verdict to reflect the cost of any future medical treatments you need. Additionally, forgoing medical care can give an insurer fodder to undervalue or deny your claim. They may argue you worsened your injuries. This is why its important to follow through with your doctors orders.
Even if you did not have to go to the emergency room, you should also get a police report to create a record that the accident occurred. Otherwise, the other driver might claim that the wreck never happened or undermine the extent of your injuries.
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.
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Why Should I Wait For The Police After A Car Accident In Louisiana
1 ) Louisiana Law Requires Police to be Notified after an Accident
You are legally required to call the police if an accident occurs in Louisiana for which there is injury, death, or property damage over $500.
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections must also be contacted, and if public property such as a stop sign, traffic light, or traffic divider has been damaged, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development must also be contacted.
Besides, if an accident results in an injury, death, or at least $100 in property damage, involved drivers have to submit a written report to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections within 24 hours of the crash. If motorists violate this rule, they might be entitled to punishment for up to 60 days in jail, a fine of up to 100 dollars, or both.
3. You Might be More Injured Than You Realize
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.
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Is The Other Driver Being Cooperative
Immediately after a car accident, assuming no serious injuries, it is standard practice to speak with the other driver, make sure all parties are okay, and exchange contact information.
If the other driver refuses to give their name or contact information, and you have reason to believe they might not have a valid license or car insurance, immediately stop trying to deal with them and call the police.
A driver who is uncooperative at the scene of the accident is probably going to be even less cooperative in the days and weeks that follow when you are trying to coordinate with your insurance companies to collect payment for damages.
In situations like this, it is better to get the police involved from the beginning. That way, you get an official accident report to submit to the insurance companies and do not have to rely on the other drivers cooperation.
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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.
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Need Help After A Car Accident Contact Us For A Free Consultation
It is in your best interest to report a car accident to the police as soon as possible. Ideally you will be able to call 911 from the scene of the crash and speak to the officer when he or she arrives. However, if you have been seriously injured, it may not be possible to report the accident to the police immediately.
OConnor & Partners, PLLC can help you protect your rights and take the necessary steps after a car accident. Our lawyers have more than 150 years of combined experience representing injured people.
Please call today for a free case review. Our car accident lawyers serve clients in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and other areas of New York.
What To Do When You Have A Minor Car Accident
There are several things you should do after an accident, even if it’s just a fender bender. If your car is drivable, the first thing to do is move it out of the way of traffic. When you’re in a safe location, check to make sure no one who was involved in the accident is hurt.
If there aren’t any serious injuries, exchange information with the other drivers, get witness statements, and take photos of the accident scene. It may seem excessive for a few dents and scratches or a damaged bumper, but it’s essential to have a record of what happened. In general, it’s also a good idea to call the police so there’s an official record of the incident.
Some injuries may take hours or even days to show up, and certain types of vehicle damage aren’t visible to the naked eye. Before you know it, your fender bender accident could turn out to be much more serious than you thought. Having a record of the accident can help the insurance companies sort out the details and determine who is responsible for paying any claims that may be filed.
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How To Pay For A Car Accident Without Involving Insurance
You may choose not to make an insurance claim. This could be because you want to cover the costs of a repair yourself, you want to protect your no claims discount , or you want to avoid your premiums going up.
However, even if you dont make a claim you should still report the accident to your insurer.
Can I File An Insurance Claim Without A Police Or Accident Report
Generally, no. Without a police report, the insurance company will likely deny your claim. Insurance adjusters expect evidence of a car crash and the circumstances surrounding it, including insisting on inspecting damaged vehicles before they are repaired by owners. Always file a police report and make sure the vehicle is inspected by the insurance company before you have it repaired by an auto repair shop.
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Get Witness Contact Info
If there are willing witnesses, ask them for their contact information and if they can wait for the police to arrive. If the accident occurred on private property, like a parking lot, ask security or a manager to make a statement. You want to have a neutral third-party account of the incident if at all possible.
When You Must Provide Written Notice Of An Auto Accident
There is one situation where drivers must provide written notice of a car crash. If a driver involved in an accident that requires reporting notifies the police and they do not investigate, that driver must submit a written report to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles .
Motorists must submit these reports within 10 days of an accident. You can find the form on theFLHSMV website. Once completed, you can submit it digitally or by mail.
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Will Law Enforcement File A Colorado Accident Report
In Colorado, law enforcement typically files a car accident report if theres any property damage that exceeds $1,000 or if a person was injured or killed. Theyll also file a report if one or more involved drivers dont have car insurance. Other than that, the office may not even bother creating and filing a report.
In a situation like this, youll want to file your own personal accident report within 60 days of the car accident to ensure theres an official record of what occurred.
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It Will Serve As Evidence For Any Personal Injury Claim
Injuries to the drivers may occur even in minor accidents, and whats more, those injuries may not present immediately. That is why you should call the police, even if it appears that everyone is fine.
In the case that you get injured, you can use the official report as hard evidence for your lawsuit . You can use it as proof of your pain and suffering caused by the car accident.
On the other hand, if the other driver is hurt, they might want to sue you, and the police report can protect you here. The officers at the scene will write in the report the actual severity of the injury so that the other driver wont be able to unrightfully sue you for more money.
Finally, keep in mind that some injuries dont appear immediately after the accident. If you want to file a personal injury claim sometime after the incident, you will still need the official police report. Also, you will be needing a really good car accident lawyer in Des Moines IA.
Your Car Accident Injuries May Worsen Over Time
Have you ever hurt or strained yourself, but didnt really feel it until the next day? The same thing can happen after a minor car accident. Even if you feel fine, its still a good idea to get a car accident Police report after an accident. Also without a car accident Police report, the at-fault drivers insurance company may refuse to cover the costs of your medical bills.
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When Do Car Accidents Need To Be Reported In Pa
Under Pa. C.S.A § 3746 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, police must file a car accident report for these specific types of car accidents:
- When a hit and run accident occurs
- If anyone is injured in a car accident
- If the vehicle cannot move and must be towed from the scene
As you can imagine, many drivers need to report their car accidents to Pennsylvania law enforcement officers. It is important that you contact 911 immediately after any of these types of accidents, so law enforcement can report the collision file your report.
If a police officer does not investigate one of the above accidents, then the drivers must submit their own reports within five day so the crash per Pa. C.S.A. § 3747. If you opt for legal representation, your lawyer can also obtain this crash report on your behalf.
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What Information Is On An Arizona Accident Report
The amount of information on an accident report can be overwhelming, especially after an accident. However, information on the report could serve as evidence for your case.
Some information on the report that may help solidify your case is:
- Other drivers contact information: This can help you get any additional information you may need after the crash.
- Overview of the accident: A summary can help determine who was at fault.
- Details about injuries: Injury details can estimate the amount of damages you may receive.
- Details about the accident location: Location information can help your lawyer identify external factors that could have caused the accident, which may relieve fault.
- Weather and conditions: Weather conditions can contribute to an accident and help your lawyer better understand the accident.
- Statements of witnesses and other drivers: Statements can be used as evidence to strengthen your case, even if they are from the defendant.
- Police officers findings: A police officer can act as a neutral party and provide information you may have overlooked.
All of this information can be useful in developing your case. You want to have as much evidence and documentation as possible from the accident, so you and your lawyer can work together building your case.
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