How Long Do You Have to File a Police Report After a Car Accident?

You have only a short time to file a police report after an accident.

For example, in states such as California, you only have 10 days after the day of the accident to file. the deadline is even stricter in other states.

If you fail to file a police report, you may have trouble making auto insurance claims and proving personal injuries were caused by the accident.

The report details the observable facts of the accident scene and is considered an official document with implications for any legal compensation claims made after the fact.

If police are not called to the scene of the accident, or don't arrive - it is often the responsibility of the drivers to report the accidentif certain thresholds are met.

Official documents like the accident report become very important when involved parties dispute what happened after an accident.

Review the deadlines below and then read the guide to help you understand why police reports are so important after a car accident and how to ensure you submit them on time.

The following is a list of state deadlines to file a written crash report to mandated by law.

What Are there Consequences for Don't File In Time?

Yes, there are serious consequences for not filing a report on time in most states.

If you are involved in a serious car accident (or even a minor fender bender) that meets your state’s reporting limits and you fail to report the accident, you may even be guilty of a crime. Additionally, you may lose your right to recover compensation for your injuries and property damage.

The penalties involved depend on the state. In California, for example, you can face license suspension if you fail to report a qualifying accident.

The good news is that you will not be personally responsible for making sure the report is made in most cases.

In the majority of auto accidents you only need to call the police to the scene of the collision. In most cases they will issue a copy of the police report to you and file it with the city.

You should check your state laws immediately after an accident to avoid any complications. Our accident lawyer can also instruct you on the specific requirements when during your free consultation.

You should always contact your insurance provider after an accident. Unlike police reports, it’s usually not a crime to fail to report an accident to your insurance, but that doesn’t mean the consequences aren’t serious.

Reporting all qualifying accidents is a requirement of most car insurance policies nationwide. If you fail to report an accident, your policy may be nullified completely, and you’ll may be unable to pursue any claim against your insurance policy.

Furthermore, you should file a claim because your judgment of an accident may not always be correct. If you fail to inform your insurance company — and then discover that property damage or personal injuries are far more severe than you first thought — you may lose your right to make compensation claim.

Police Reports and Accidents Reports don’t have an important difference. You can think of accident reports as a special kind of police report that covers only auto accidents.

It will cover details like the time of the accident, driver’s license information, and the location.

Accident reports will have to be created for most motor vehicle accidents (even minor accidents). In many cases, you will not have to take action to create the reports yourself because police officers or highway patrol officers will arrive at the scene of the accident and write up a report that you can request.

Your state may require you to report an accident if the damage rises above a certain threshold or if it was impossible to get the other driver’s insurance.

Not all accidents will meet the legal reporting requirements. Minor scrapes where both drivers stop and share their insurance information can be handled without involving law enforcement.

If property damage or other factors require you to report the accident in your state, and law enforcement does not arrive, you must call in the report to your local police station or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

While not all accidents involve crimes, some do. Police reports may be the first step you take toward having criminal behavior against you recognized.

• A driver involved in the accident fled the scene (a hit-and-run)
• A driver involved in the accident was visibly impaired
• A driver appeared to cause the accident deliberately (road rage)
• A driver involved in the accident had a car in illegal condition (illegal modifications, obstructed vision, missing plates or tags)

This information has critical implications for compensation claims after an accident.

Criminal conviction is significant proof of responsibility, and the first police report will establish some important baseline facts you can use to build a case.

Civil cases and criminal cases are separate, but if the other driver is charged and convicted in a criminal case (for example, of drunk driving), you will be able to use it as evidence of their culpability for your injuries.