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Do I Need to File a Police Report After a Car Wreck?

Mar 04, 2021 (0) comment , , , , , ,

car wreck, two cars, rear ended

by Solo Insurance® (Soloinsurance.net)

If you have a car wreck, then you may want to file a car insurance claim. However, the insurance company may require a police report to sort out who hit whom. Your claim rep may need evidence and a police report goes a long way toward sorting it out. So, it’s a good idea to file a police report to support.

Whether you have to file a police report following a car accident will depend on numerous factors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the finer points that you must consider when deciding whether to do so.

When to File a Police Report

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All states require vehicle accidents to be reported, if they meet certain benchmarks. So, while not all accidents need a police report, they’re a good idea. States often have a set of rules about when to contact the authorities.

Though state laws vary, typically contact the police if:

  • The accident involves more people than just a single driver and their passengers.
  • Total damages amount to $500 or more.
  • A vehicle needs to be towed away.
  • An involved party is injured.

Note: If it’s worth filing a car insurance claim, then get a police report. Get your own copy.

The report can come in handy following even a minor accident. With it, you’ll have a legal document establishing what happened and it will be harder for anyone to misremember or change their story to claims. Human memories can get a little hazy the more time that goes by. Details are important in car accidents.

The Process of Filing a Police Report

Often, it is best to file a police report while you are at the scene of the accident. However, in some cases you do have a grace period to contact the police after an accident occurs.

Still, it’s a good idea to take notes right after a car accident, regardless of whether you plan on filing a report or an insurance claim. Having a record for yourself and for your insurer, at the very least, can make it easier to file a claim, and easier to remember precisely what happened.

You don’t have to write down the details of the accident minutely. However, documenting the damage in a few notes, photographing the damage and asking if a witness saw what happened can help you get the details you need to file an insurance claim. It may be difficult remembering precise details later, so getting the facts down right away is never a bad idea.


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