Even a minor car accident can mean a lot of paperwork. Police reports, insurance claims, DMV reports. how do you know what’s what? Does a police report automatically go to the DMV? What if you’re not using insurance? Here’s what you need to know about when and how to report an accident in your state.
Each state has its own set of rules for how, when, and if a car accident is required to be reported. It’s generally good practice to call local police and wait for them to come to the scene so that they can make an accident report. But there are some instances when the police might not come if the accident is very minor. If that happens, it could be up to you to choose to report the accident or not.
If you’re thinking of handling the car accident privately (without using either driver’s insurance), you might be tempted to skip reporting to the police altogether. And, maybe you can — but maybe not.
A police report is a good document to have, whether or not you’re using insurance. It will include the specifics of the accident (date, time, location, etc.) and each driver’s name, address, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and other crucial pieces of information.
Even a minor car accident can leave drivers feeling shaken and not thinking clearly — so you might forget to gather some essential information that you’ll need later. There could also be evidence included on a police report that might point to which driver is at fault, and that would be helpful in damage negotiations.
In other words, you only need to pay attention to your state’s reporting requirements if there’s no police report for your accident. Even if there is a police report, the police might not file it with the DMV on time. If that happens, it’s your responsibility to ensure the DMV receives a report within its deadline.
If there’s a ticket issued related to the accident (speeding, failure to yield, unsafe lane change, etc.), the police will notify the DMV because any infraction goes on the driver’s record.
Enjuris tip: All parties involved in an accident should make their own report to the DMV. If the other party files a report with the DMV and claims you were at fault, you could be disadvantaged by not having reported it yourself.
Use this state-by-state breakdown to see if and when you’re required by law to report an accident.
If you’ve been in an accident and you’re not sure what to do, there’s help. The Enjuris Personal Injury Law Firm Directory can help you find a car crash lawyer in your state who knows the rules and can guide you through the process of reporting and handling damages after an accident.
