Category: Accident

What to Do After an Accident

When you have been involved in a car accident, it can be frightening, stressful, and confusing. Your adrenaline is rushing, and your brain is still trying to figure out what to do next. You need to do a few key things to ensure you and others are protected. There are many ways to avoid a car accident. However, once it happens, you need to know what to do and what questions to ask for your insurance claim. These tips offer you sound advice to keep you and your passengers safe as you manage the accident scene.

What To Do After a Car Accident?

If you are involved in an accident, you have a legal obligation to stop. Even if there is not any damage, you will need to pull over to inspect your car. Never drive away from the scene of an accident. If you are involved in a hit and run, you can be in trouble with law enforcement authorities by driving away. It is also important to never admit responsibility for the accident. Your insurance adjuster will investigate the accident and determine the fault. Since your insurance policy is a contract, your car insurance company does not want you to assume responsibility or liability under any circumstances.

Determine the Extent of Injuries or Damages

For those accidents with other cars or pedestrians, you need to check if anyone needs immediate medical care. You never want to move anyone from a car unless there is a chance the vehicle will catch on fire. It is better to wait for emergency personnel. You can stay with the accident victim until help arrives. Make sure you stay on the phone with emergency services and help direct them to the individuals who might need assistance. If the crash is severe, you might want to wait for the police or emergency services to come to the scene before you move any vehicles.

Move Away from Traffic

Once you have determined that everyone is safe, you might want to get away from the flow of traffic. If possible, you should move the cars to the shoulder or side of the road. If you cannot drive your vehicle, at least get yourself out of the traffic flow by exiting the car and moving to the side of the road. It is not unusual for secondary accidents to occur when disabled vehicles are blocking traffic. Unless someone needs immediate help, you should wait to make any phone calls until you are safely away from moving vehicles.

Contact Emergency Services

Even in a minor accident, you want to contact the police to get an official legal accident report. These official documents will be important when you need to make a claim with your insurance company. As soon as you are safely out of traffic, call 911 to get emergency services on the way. Don’t try to direct or block traffic as the authorities will take care of that when they arrive. The dispatcher will send EMS, police, and fire vehicles to deal with the crash scene. Although police may not determine fault at the scene, they will document everything and put it in a police report that can be turned over to your insurance company.

Limit Your Conversation With the Other Drivers

Since you do not want to admit any fault or liability, you need to limit your discussion of the accident. You should only talk about the accident to medical professionals, police, and your insurance representatives.

Collect Information

If another driver is involved in the collision, you must provide them with your insurance information. They must also provide you with their insurance. Before an accident, it is helpful to know what your insurance will cover should one occur with your vehicle. Some insurance companies have tow truck preferences, and you may need to reach out to them before calling a tow truck. Most insurance companies have 24-hour claims departments too. No matter what time of day or night the accident happens, you may be able to speak to someone at your insurance company.

Beware Of Unsolicited Towing Services

In some areas, tow trucks may appear at the scene before you have called your insurance’s preferred company. If this should happen, be careful as unscrupulous tow truck companies seek out car accidents to charge exorbitant fees. If you don’t recognize the company, inform them that you have already called a tow truck and thank them for their time. When your tow truck does arrive, ask them what the tow will cost and where they are taking your car. You will also want to know if there are fees to store your vehicle as you work through the insurance red tape. Request that they provide you with a receipt that indicates where the car will go and the tow costs. Once everything has been finalized, request a copy of an invoice to be sure you were charged properly.

Get All The Necessary Information

With the stress of a car accident, you need to understand what to do after a car crash. It is essential to get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all those involved in the accident. You should note the description of the car and the license plate number for your records. However, the most important information is the insurance company information and the other car’s vehicle identification number. In most cases, the license plate numbers are not sufficient as insurance companies record the policy to the vehicle identification number.

Car Accident Information Checklist

If you want to file a proper insurance claim, you need to collect a little information about the incident, such as:

Details about the accident
Driver’s contact information
Insurance policy details

Along with that, there are some other pieces of information that you need after a car crash.

Car Accident Form

If you want to be prepared for a car accident, then you may want to get an accident form from your local police station or DMV. Every state has a different format, and it is a good idea to take down as much information as possible. With these forms, you will be able to collect all the important information you need to make an insurance claim.

Ask for the Other Driver’s Information

You don’t want to talk about the accident with the other driver, but you can get their information for your records. You need the driver’s name, address, phone number, and additional contact information. The other driver’s insurance information is extremely important. In addition to their contact details, you should look at their insurance card. You will want to ask for the insurance company name and policy number. It is a good idea to write down the insurance company’s contact information.

Gather All the Details

After an accident, you need to record the description, make, model, and year of all the vehicles involved in an accident. You should note the date and time of the accident and the crash’s approximate address. Your notes should be as detailed as possible, and you will want to make notes of the direction of travel, a brief description of the accident, and the road conditions. Along with that, make sure to grab the witnesses’ names and contact information. Once a law enforcement official has arrived on the scene, you should ask for the name, badge number, and contact information of the responding officer.

Take Pictures of the Scene

Since many people have access to cameras on their mobile phones, you may want to consider taking photos. Many insurance companies have apps or emails where you can send those photos. These pictures can help you document any property damage, the cars’ position, the street addresses, and other pertinent information for your claim.

Contact Your Insurance Company

You have a lot of information to collect after an accident. Once you have made a police report, documented the scene, and collected the other driver’s information, you can call your insurance company. If there are no injuries, you may be able to contact the claims department from the scene. In some cases, a police officer might be able to talk to your insurance company and give more accurate information about the scene. However, you never want to rely on others to help with your claim.

Find an Auto Body Shop Near Me

It can be traumatizing to be involved in a car accident. First and foremost, you want to make sure everyone is safe after a vehicle crash. Once that has happened, you can start to collect information for your claim. Your insurance company will want you to get a professional inspection of your vehicle. After that has been completed, you will be able to have repairs completed at an experienced auto body shop.

At Elmer’s Auto Body, we can conduct an inspection and help bring your car back to its original condition. Our teams will use the latest technology to make your vehicle shine. If you want to schedule an appointment, give our office a call at (856) 218-0202.

Is My Car Safe To Drive After An Accident?

If your car has suffered damage in an accident, you may be concerned about its safety. External damage is often apparent, but you may not be able to see all the damage caused by the collision. These tips can help you determine if your car is safe to drive on the road. If your vehicle is damaged, you need to schedule an inspection at a professional body shop.

Law Enforcement Can Determine Road-Worthiness

If you are involved in a collision, local law enforcement often responds to the call. For those insurance claims, you need to contact the police to obtain an accident report. The officer is also trained to assess a vehicle’s damage and can determine if it meets the legal standards to drive on the roadways.

A law enforcement officer can tell if your headlights, turn signals, and brake lights are operational. If the tires or turning mechanisms are damaged, you cannot control the car. Police can even determine if minor problems will prevent your vehicle’s safe operation on the road. In most cases, if all safety mechanisms and mechanical features of the car are operating, the vehicle will be determined safe to drive.

Look Out for These Danger Signs

If there is smoke coming from your vehicle, it may not be the result of a fire. Smoke is often caused by fluids hitting those hot areas of the engine. At this point, you want to check for any fluids leaking from the car. If fluids are dripping, this is a major safety issue. You might have antifreeze or coolant leaking, and that can cause your engine to overheat. After an accident, oil can also leak out from your car’s engine. When that happens, you are risking the chance of major engine failure or a fire. Finally, brake fluid is an essential part of your safety system. A brake oil leak runs the risk of a catastrophic brake failure on your car. If smoke or steam is coming from your engine, it is unsafe to drive as it could obstruct your view.

All of these leaks could be potentially harmful to yourself and others on the road. If you notice leaking fluid from your vehicle, make sure to contact a tow truck. You can have your car towed to an experienced body shop or repair center. These professionals will inspect your vehicle to determine if it is safe to drive. You don’t want to take any risks when you get behind the wheel.

Although it may seem like common sense, you should never drive on a flat tire. You can quickly lose control of the vehicle and crash. Proper wheel alignment is important after a collision. If your wheels are aligned, then your car is drivable. However, if your wheels are misaligned, you will notice that your vehicle pulls to one side. When that happens, the car can swerve into traffic and cause an accident. If the engine is making strange noises or pulls sharply to one side when driving, it is not safe on the roads and should be parked until you can bring it into a repair shop.

You should never drive a vehicle without tail lights, turn signals, brake lights, or headlights. Before you hit the road with your damaged car, you want to take a look at your lighting systems. Broken lights may also indicate other issues that you cannot see. For example, a hidden electric component short could lead to a fire. Driving with a broken headlamp, lens, or tail light is dangerous. It is also illegal in almost all states. If you are heading down the road with broken safety equipment, you will likely be pulled over and ticketed. In any case, you never want to drive your car until you can get those broken or missing light fixtures fixed.

Your side mirrors are essential safety features, and you want to make sure they are intact. If the driver side mirror is in place, but your passenger-side mirror is missing, then you will still be able to drive the car. You will have to use the rearview mirror to compensate for that lost mirror. However, with two mirrors missing, you might be pulled over by law enforcement for operating a vehicle without the proper safety equipment. Along with that, it is hazardous to drive without these mirrors. You will increase your chance of causing another accident if you cannot see the traffic around your vehicle.

Finally, make sure to check out your hood. If the hood can be locked and closed, you are safe to hit the road. After an accident, the locking mechanism can become damaged, and your hood will not stay shut on the car. A damaged hood can cause air pressure to build up from the engine, and the hood can pop open as you drive down the road. As you can imagine, the hood will completely block your vision. In this nightmare scenario, you are a danger to yourself and other drivers on the road. You never want to risk the chance of an accident. If your hood or other components are broken, make sure to take your car to a reliable auto body shop.

Driving After an Accident Checklist

In short, here is a review of the parts and components you need to inspect before hitting the road. This checklist will ensure that your vehicle is ready to drive. If any parts are broken or failing, you need to tow your car to a repair shop before driving.

Make sure your lamps are functioning.
Check to ensure your mirrors are intact.
Make sure there is no leaking fluid.
Ensure your wheels are in proper alignment.
Make sure your hood is not broken.

Repair Your Car

After an accident, there is going to be damage to the vehicle. In some cases, the damages are minor. You might even consider hitting the road without the proper inspection. However, there are a few things that you need to take into consideration.

Depending on the severity of the accident, you might be able to drive the car without any issues. If there is significant damage to your vehicle, and you drive it without an inspection, you could face some severe consequences. In some cases, the damage is not visible to the driver. When you drive the car, it could be causing more damage to essential components. In turn, your insurance company might deny your claim since you never had an initial inspection of the vehicle. After driving a car in an accident, you can cause more vehicle problems. In some cases, the car might be damaged beyond repair.

Without a proper inspection, your car is an unsafe vehicle. Your brake fluids might be leaking, or the wheels are misaligned. When you take your vehicle on the road, you run the risk of another accident. If you cause an accident with your damaged vehicle, you can get into serious legal trouble. Anyone injured in this accident can sue you for damages, and your insurance company might deny your claims. You don’t want to take the risk and cause injuries to other drivers and passengers because you neglected to have your car inspected.

Looking for an Auto Body Shop Near Me?

If your car has been in a collision, contact Elmer’s Auto Body to set up an appointment. We can get your vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible. You can schedule an inspection by calling (856) 218-0202.

Will My Car Be Worth Less After an Accident?

After an accident, you may be worried about your vehicle’s value. Those minor accidents can require bodywork and other repairs. When you bring your car in for a repair, it does not mean your vehicle’s value will drop. There are many factors to take into consideration regarding car value. Here are a few things you should know about repair work and car values.

Damage Can Lower Value

Most experts will tell you that a car with damage is worth less than the same vehicle without any damage. Some claim that the car loses as much as 33 percent of its value if it has required repair work after an accident. However, this figure does not take into consideration the mileage of the car, options installed in the vehicle, or other factors that can affect a vehicle’s value.

After an accident, your vehicle has experienced economic loss known as diminished value. If your car is damaged in an accident and gets repaired, it will have a damage history. In most cases, this history can lower your vehicle’s resale value. For many cars, the vehicle’s diminished value is due to aftermarket parts. However, even those cars repaired at a dealership will see some diminished value when they are fixed.

There are several ways that your car can sustain diminished value after a car accident. Immediate diminished value is the difference between your vehicle’s trade-in value before the accident and the resale value after the completed repairs. Inherent diminished value assumes that your car has been repaired to the original condition. However, this value takes into account that your vehicle has been in an accident. Inherent diminished value reduces the car’s worth when you try to resell it. Lastly, repair-related diminished value is the lost value that results from the quality of repairs. For example, if you used aftermarket parts or the paint color does not match, then the quality of the repair can cause a loss in the vehicle’s value.

Should I Worry About My Car’s Diminished Value?

After an accident, your vehicle will see a decrease in its value. When you list your car for sale after an accident, it will not have the same value as a brand new vehicle. Even when you repair your vehicle, you might not recover its full value. Any type of accident will lower the resale value when compared to those cars that were never involved in an accident. When your insurance pays to have the damage fixed, the accident will become part of the vehicle’s history report. Services like Carfax can access those reports, and that can lead to a lowering of your car’s value. These values will come into play when you are ready to trade-in or resell your vehicle. In some cases, an accident can knock off thousands of dollars from your original car value.

Unfortunately, the diminished value can affect your resale value. If you are selling a brand new car after an accident, your insurance company will repair it to its original condition. When you sell your vehicle, the new buyer or dealership often checks out your car’s history. In turn, they might not be willing to pay your asking price for the vehicle. Many buyers will not even consider buying a vehicle that was involved in an accident.

With diminished value, your vehicle has not only incurred physical damage, but it has suffered from a loss in value. This diminished value can affect your car on several levels. Now that you know your vehicle will lose value, you can be compensated for the overall loss of value by filing a diminished value insurance claim. This claim can help you recover the difference in the car’s value before your vehicle was in an accident. Depending on the circumstances, you cannot always file these claims, but you might want to look into these options. You will need to get your car professionally appraised so that you can make a claim for its lost value.

Can I Prevent Vehicle Depreciation After an Accident?

Cars will always lose value, even those that are not involved in an accident. The only way you can prevent severe depreciation is to avoid any accidents. You need to keep your car in good working order, perform proper maintenance, and be vigilant behind the wheel. However, even with the safest drivers, there is a chance that your vehicle could be involved in an accident. In those cases, you cannot prevent the damage to your car, but you can take a few steps to minimize the loss that can occur from these collisions.

Choose a Good Repair Shop

A good repair shop may be able to discreetly fix the damage so that even an experienced appraiser will not notice issues with your car. There are also methods for repairing vehicles today, like paintless dent repair, that allow technicians to repair your vehicle with no need for body filler or painting. These techniques mean that the repair may be virtually undetectable when you trade it.

However, it is important to note that almost every car has a vehicle report that may show it was involved in an accident. If your dealer uses one of these reports, they will discover any repairs to your car.

Think About a Dealer Trade-In

If you are trading your vehicle at a dealership, there are a few things you need to know. Any undamaged car with less than 30,000 miles will receive the highest offer from a dealer, especially if it has a look that buyers want at the time. The dealer can detail the car and place it on their own lot. Undamaged vehicles with 30,000 to 65,000 miles will receive a higher offer than a car with the same mileage and accident damage. However, if the damage is virtually undetectable, your car might be able to command a higher resale price.

Dealers often put these cars on their used lots, but they usually auction or wholesale them. Damage in vehicles with more than 65,000 miles may not impact the dealer’s asking price since they are going straight to auction or wholesale. In these cases, the more mileage you have on an older vehicle, the less likely damage from an accident will significantly impact the dealer’s trade-in price.

Individual Sales

One way to avoid losing money due to damage is to sell the car by yourself. The person who purchases your vehicle may not mind that it is damaged. It is wise to inform the buyer of any car damage as vehicle reports are available online to anyone who wishes to purchase them. Any insurance claims or police reports will appear in the vehicle report. The report may even note any significant damage to the vehicle.

Insurance companies will use a precise formula to calculate your damaged car’s depreciated value. In most cases, the figure is usually the same for all insurance companies. However, if you are selling the vehicle, the depreciated value can become more subjective. The potential buyer might feel the car is worth more than its depreciated value. If they are looking for a specific vehicle, it may be worth more to them, even if it is damaged. On the other hand, they can use the damage history to negotiate your car’s price.

Need an Auto Body Shop Near Me?

While you cannot prevent a car’s value loss after an accident, there are a few things to do to help prevent a complete loss on your vehicle. Besides selling the car, you want to complete all the car’s necessary repairs. When your vehicle needs repairs after an accident, there is no need to worry. A good repair shop will do the work that can minimize the vehicle’s loss from an accident.

Elmer’s Auto Body can return your car to its original condition and get you back on the road. If the damage is relatively minor, we may be able to use paintless dent repair technology. Many of these repair techniques are virtually undetectable, and your vehicle will look good as new. Schedule an appointment today by calling the shop at (856) 218-0202.

Do I Have to Repair My Car After an Insurance Claim Accident?

Depending on the accident and your insurer, you may not have to repair your car after making an insurance claim. Sometimes you can keep your claim money, but before you go spending cash on a wild shopping spree, look at the circumstances that govern whether you claim the money or give it up to a repair facility.

Owning your Vehicle

When your vehicle is free and clear of any payments and you’re the undisputed owner, and state laws allow for release of insurance claim money directly to a policy owner, and your insurance policy specifically states that a claim can go directly to you rather than a repair shop, the insurance claim money is legally yours with no implications of fraud; however, when you claim damage you won’t be able to claim it again, which includes not using any claim money for repairs. If you claim the same damage for another incident, there can be legal implications.

Check your Policy

Checking your policy requirements is the first place to go to determine whether you can collect an insurance claim payout for yourself. Attempting to claim any monies without approval could be unlawful.

Insurance Check Recipient

As nice as it would be to pocket your insurance claim money, your provider may require that any payment for repairs go straight to the body repair shop performing the work. This is one way of guaranteeing that any insurance money for repairs is going directly to the repair shop. When you go through the claims procedure, your insurance company may allow you to choose your own repair shop or will select their own one for you to use. Your provider may require you to get several appraisals if you go with your own shop choices, which makes it more of a task for you, so it may be best to go with your insurance provider’s choices. You also want to remember that once you make a claim for damages, you won’t be able to make another one.

Vehicle Leases and Loans

If you lease a vehicle or have a loan on it with monthly payments, keeping any insurance claim money will probably not be your choice, as your insurance policy will show the loan and leasing company as the entity insured on the policy. Any check written to cover repairs will probably be in your name and the company representing the lease or loan. This means the company will have to be the signer on any repairs before you receive any cash. Whoever your lease or loan holder is, they may instruct you to use any claim money for repairs and ask for documentation and assurance that the repairs were made.

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

If you have comprehensive or collision coverage on your vehicle, that coverage requires you to repair any damage after an accident. Maintaining and keeping comprehensive and collision coverage makes it essential to make repairs. If you leave the damage alone and you pocket an insurance claim check, an insurance provider will be reluctant to pay out for any ensuing damages because of a second accident, plus the provider may require a policyholder to cancel the comprehensive or collision coverage. It’s necessary to show proof of the repair, and that happens when a claim check is in both your name and the body repair shop’s name.

Neglecting Repairs

In neglecting vehicle repairs after an accident, the safety aspect comes into play as vehicle owners could put themselves in jeopardy of another accident without the coverage. Maybe the original damage is minimal and requires little to no attention in the way of repairs, but there is always the chance of hidden damage coming out later and causing safety issues with driving.

Unseen damage is one reason it is critical to get advice from a body repair expert. This kind of neglect brings added expenses down the road and the threat of an unsafe vehicle. Vehicle owners think they are saving money when they pocket money through an insurance claim, but they are just postponing the inevitable of another accident, losing necessary coverage and the general hassle of it all.

If you really want to save money in the long run and don’t want the issues that go along with unresolved damages after an accident, complete the online contact form and an expert technician will get back to you with the advice you need to determine whether you need to repair your car after an insurance claim accident.

Do I Need Car Repairs After an Accident?

If you experience a car accident, whether a minor or major one, there will probably be damage that will affect your vehicle. You’ll be lucky to escape repair costs as even the most minimal of damage may require repair. Determining whether you need repairs will take not only your own observation but that of any law enforcement officials at the accident scene, your insurance company and an auto body repair expert.

Ignoring Repairs

Some drivers will ignore minor repairs and go on their merry driving way, but in making that choice, they are setting themselves up for problems down the road. There are several reasons you shouldn’t ignore even the slightest damage following an accident as any initial damage can lead to further damage. There are several other reasons you should repair your vehicle after an accident.

Saving on Repair Costs

Keeping any insurance claim money and not paying out the deductible is not the wisest tactic. Allowing damage to remain on a vehicle is costly as further complications can occur as time goes on and overall repair costs escalate. It’s a lot easier to just pay the original repair costs. If the deductible worries you, there are ways to cover repair costs through payment plans to auto body repair shops.

I Need My Car

You may think losing your vehicle for a few days is a major dilemma, but delaying repairs can make any future repairs more difficult and costly. Waiting patiently for your vehicle to go through a professional repair process is important to the stability and longevity of your vehicle. Most auto body repair shops will do everything within reason to repair and return a vehicle in a reasonable amount of time. Use a rental car, loaner car, catch a ride with a co-worker or take a city bus, train or other public transportation.

Insurance Company Woes

Deciding to delay damage repairs on your vehicle causes additional problems. If another accident occurs, your insurance provider may wonder about the previous damage and why you didn’t make repairs early on. Also, your provider may feel that the initial accident aggravated any new damage, or they might feel that you are being deceptive on your part and are trying to receive an additional disbursement.

The (DIY) Routine

You may believe you possess the tricks of the trade to repair the damage to your vehicle, but you’d be wise to realize that auto body technicians are highly trained and must be certified to repair vehicle damage. Trying to compete with that and repair unseen damage can be an arduous process and present safety hazards to you along the way, plus compromise the stability of your vehicle. You may think you are saving time, and money, but a professional knows best.

Finding the Right Auto Body Shop

Finding a reputable body shop for repair work is important, and many vehicle owners express distrust in body shops as they feel they’ll be bilked out of gobs of money in the repair process. Most body shops today are both highly reputable and technically savvy, and they’ll provide the latest in innovative repair services with fair prices. Many shops are adept at working with insurance companies and will also help vehicle owners in the negotiation process.

Repair Procedures

When you realize the extent of damage to your vehicle following an accident and understand that you need to take care of any damage as soon as possible, you’ll want to be aware of the right procedures to follow.

The process begins with contacting your insurance company, filing and completing a claim form and selecting a reputable body repair shop. Choosing a shop to do the job is important, as you want to find one that will complete the work in a reasonable amount of time but meet certain standards. It pays to check reliable repair shops. Talk to others or read online reviews as to the reliability of body shops that you would like to use, or your insurance company recommends that you use.

Before you make a final choice, make sure you get price estimates from several shops and double check that your final choice has ASE certified mechanics, provides warranties for repairs, expresses whether they use new or after market replacement parts, provides explicit written and verbal explanations as to the exact extent of damages and repairs that will occur. In addition, get a final repair estimate agreeable to you and your insurance carrier.

If you’re still unsure whether your vehicle needs repair work after an accident, complete the online contact form and an expert will get back to you with answers to questions you may have. Once you receive a full assessment, you’ll be better able to decide on filing an insurance claim and choosing a shop for needed repairs.

Do I Need a Police Report After a Car Accident?

There are some instances where you won’t need a police report after a car accident, and there will be others where you will. There are deciding factors in the equation that will help you determine when you must file a police report.

Accidents happen and an average driver is likely to experience a vehicular accident a few or more times during their driving lifetime. Usually these accidents won’t involve loss of life or serious injuries, but any accident can traumatize a driver. No matter the accident’s magnitude, any repairs, large or small, will probably enter into the situation. With the chances of an accident happening, prepare ahead of time for what a police report entails and what justifies filing one.

State Laws

Every state has their own rules that determine when to file a police report. So, wherever you live will affect what you have to do concerning filing a report. One state ruling in Texas says that if a police officer arrives on the crash scene, that officer has to file a report within 10 days after the accident. From there, a copy of the report is usually available within 5-8 days after the filing. Additionally, if there is an injury, with damage over $1,000, an accident report is necessary and a peace officer will complete a crash report. In contrast, the state of Vermont requires that property damage reach at least $3,000 and that any injuries are taken into account. A written report is sent to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles within a 72-hour period of the accident occurrence.

When you Need a Police Report

An accident report is usually unnecessary when vehicle damage is minimal, injuries are non existent and the drivers involved carry insurance and legal licenses. When minor accidents occur, most interactions between drivers are usually civil, but all that can change once both drivers examine an accident more closely. After the excitement has subsided, and those involved rehash what happened, and a medical issue or undetected damage surfaces, the whole view of a minor accident can change.

The facts can be vague even a few days after an accident. All this makes it imperative to file a police report at the time of the accident, minor or otherwise. There is no way of knowing whether a lawsuit will be in the mix down the road. If there is involvement with the police from the beginning, they will substantiate what has happened at the scene. They should be able to determine injured individuals, who was at fault, the extent of damages and the actual accident scene dynamics. When the police aren’t on the scene, it will be a case of your word against that of the other driver. That’s why it’s important to have complete documentation from the scene should legal matters come into play.

Besides written documentation, take pictures of your vehicle, the other vehicle, and the area around the accident. You can use the pictures as later evidence in case there is a lawsuit or there are direct questions by the police.

Making an Insurance Claim

If damage to your vehicle is limited, a police report will not be necessary to file a claim. A police report is only necessary when damage is extensive and you want compensation or a crime has taken place at the accident scene. It is, however, to your advantage to have a police report in hand to give to your insurance provider to speed up the claim process.

Accidents on Private Property

Accidents that occur on private property do not require filing a police report. Private property would be an individual’s home driveway, a shopping mall parking lot, or an individual’s business, such as a motel. With that in mind, it will be your responsibility to gather pertinent information to file an insurance claim. If you do contact the police, they will ask you the location or address of the accident. They will further inform you whether the police will come to the area or provide a report if the location happens to be private property. Any police report is going to be for accidents that happen on highways, city and county roads or other streets.

Other Instances of Non-reporting

Police reports only document what happens in accidents involving two or more individuals and their vehicles. Also, a report is only necessary when extensive property damage or injuries occur. A single vehicle collision such as running into a light pole does not justify calling for a police report. You simply assess and document the damage and contact your insurance company.

In certain situations and instances, filing a police report according to your individual state laws may be necessary. If you’re unsure as to the requirements in your state, or you just have general questions, complete the online contact form and a representative will get back to you with the answers you need to make an informed decision.