There are a lot of things to worry about after getting in a car accident. Ensuring everyone is okay, checking the damage, and exchanging insurance information are all necessary steps when moving forward from a crash. But in many instances, individuals involved in car accidents are quick to dismiss the idea of making a police report.
Making a police report and getting an officer to check out the accident could save you a lot of trouble in the future. By reporting the conversation, promises, and obligations discussed between you and the other driver, a police report can protect you from paying more than you need to in repairs or medical bills.
In almost every car accident, someone is at fault. Even if the person who made the mistake recognizes that the cost to fix the damages will come out of their pocket, there are still a variety of reasons that make it important to file a police report after the accident.
Mini Tort
If the individual at fault has promised to cover the damages, but you’re having trouble getting their insurance information, a police report will help you immensely in the case of a mini tort.
Getting a police officer at the scene of the accident will support the story behind the accident and who is at fault. Without an outside party to document what happened, it would be easy for a judge or insurance adjuster to dismiss any mini tort claims. It could also give the driver at fault the opportunity to argue that they were not a part of the accident or the damage was not as extensive as you are claiming.
If you find yourself caught in a battle of who did what, having a police report can help confirm the truth of what happened. Additionally, if you find that your case needs to go to court, a police report will prove that you were not at fault.
Your Insurance May Require It
If the damages from an accident aren’t that bad, you may assume it is fine to carry on without making a police report. Unfortunately, in order to make an insurance claim and have the damages covered, your insurance provider may require proof of a police report.
This could leave you paying the bill for damages and any medical bills if treatment ends up being needed. To avoid having to pay out of your own pocket, spend the extra time to get a police report filed so that you are covered.
You May Have More Complicated Injuries
Depending on the type of collision, many individuals leave the accident in some kind of pain. Even if you think you are not seriously injured, what appeared to be general soreness from the accident could end up being something more serious, like whiplash or a disc injury.
If the driver at fault does not have adequate bodily injury insurance, your insurance may require a police report before they will assist in paying medical bills. If you do not report the claim within a certain amount of time, usually only a few weeks, you could miss the opportunity to receive compensation for personal injury or pain and suffering.
When you’re involved in a car accident, the last thing you probably want to do is wait for a police officer to arrive at the scene. But even if the damages are small and the at-fault driver promises to pay for the repairs, having a police officer there to confirm the details of the accident could save you a lot of time and money in the end.
