Call The Police

Even if there are no serious injuries, it is a good idea to call the police. You may need a police report to file a claim with your insurance company, even if it is just to make a claim for damage to your vehicle. The vehicles involved in the accident should remain where they are, unless they interfere with traffic.

Having an officer at the scene of the accident will expedite the exchange of information between all parties involved. No matter who is at fault. You should always call the police or 911 when:

• There is personal injury: You should always call the police or 911 immediately if anyone is injured at the scene of a car accident. The dispatcher will also notify the officer at the scene of the accident and they will file the police report. Be sure that you get a copy for your insurance claim.
• When damages exceed $1,000: It doesn’t take much of an impact to create $1,000 worth of damage, especially if newer models are involved.

Has there been a motor vehicle violation?

If you feel that the other driver has committed a motor vehicle violation but doesn’t want you to call the police, ignore him or her and make the call. They might argue that if no one is hurt in the accident, all that’s needed is an exchange of insurance and personal information. Often times all parties at an accident scene appear to agree about the facts then later change their minds.

What about fender-bender accidents?

The police department may decline to respond to a minor accident scene if no one is hurt. However, it’s still a good idea to make the call and let them decide.

Should the police choose not to come to the scene of your accident, and you feel rattled and unsure about how to proceed, at the very least you can ask the dispatcher for advice, if you need it. In this case, no police report will be filed unless you go to the nearest police station and file one yourself.

Reasons to file your own police report

Should the police decline to come to your minor auto accident, an official police document will be an asset for the following reasons:

• Delay in damages. Not all damage to the cars or the people involved is apparent at the scene of an auto accident.
• Future liability. Even if you and the other driver (or passengers) appear to agree about what caused the accident, you can’t be sure that they will hold this same opinion later on. A police report is a powerful document should there be litigation.
• Facilitating a settlement. A police report may expedite the claim process.

Be sure to notify your insurance agent immediately when you are involved at the scene of an auto accident.