My wife got into a minor fender bender which was her fault. Additionally, keeping certain items in the car can help keep you and others safe in the immediate aftermath of an accident. If the police are coming to the scene, wait for them to arrive so you can give your version of events for the police report. What Is Considered a Minor Car Accident? If there aren't any injuries and damage to the vehicles is minor, you may not have to, but it's still a good idea. Make a note of what happens at the scene. Police reports heavily influence insurance adjusters. 6 days later he gives me a estimate from a expensive repair shop of almost 1000 dollars, a entire new bumper was quoted with parking sensors and paint job. But even if your accident doesnt show up on your driving record, it doesnt mean that future car insurance companies wont know about it and the associated claim. However, he filed a, Last week while driving on the freeway in Cypress, TX I bumped the car in front of me VERY slightly. Throughout the process, you'll receive regular status updates so you can stay informed and connectedand put your mind at ease. In most cases, a police officer will investigate the crash and prepare a formal police accident report. It's essential to contact your insurer if you're in an accident with another vehicle because it's not always possible to determine how severe someone's injuries are or how badly a car is damaged at the scene. The driver of the car. Call 911: Even if you think the accident was a few dents with no injuries, call the police. If someone from the other car hires a lawyer, you can bet they will be contacting your insurance company with a demand for money. Copyright 2023 CarInsurance.com. You might have heard of the reports referred to as C.L.U.E. Whether or not you are legally required to file a police report depends on your states laws, however. Its important to report the accident to local police. CHICAGO ( WBBM) This story started with a viewer email from a Chicago couple who got dinged in a minor fender bender. It is NOT formal legal advice. We know that you may be stressed or worried. Still, you need to have an official record of the accident, even if its just a record of your call to the police. Pack a safety kit and keep these items in your vehicle: 2. Insurance doesn't have to be complicated. jQuery("html, body").animate({ Claiming pain and suffering after a minor fender bender accident? Not all car accidents require hiring an attorney and filing a lawsuit. If you hit a parked car and cant locate the other driver, or if the damage involves property like a building or fence, you will need to contact the property owner or at least leave your information so that the owner will know how to contact you on return. Your use of this site does NOT create an attorney-client relationship. Depending on the law in your state and the location of the accident, a report may need to be made to the municipal police department, county sheriff, highway patrol, state police, the department of motor vehicles, or a similar agency. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company. ). The other insurance company will contact your insurance company with the claim if you left your information as required. One company may surcharge a minor accident while other insurers will not. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company. He is currently a member in good standing of the New York State Bar and U.S. District Court. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. In many instances, calling the police is the best course of . When you apply for, or renew, your auto insurance, the insurance company will evaluate your risk level how likely you are to cost them money through claims. No results found. Chat now to ask Flo anything or explore commonly asked questions. Your insurance company will contact you and you can explain that you didnt hit the womans car. If you dont get to explain what happened, the other driver can blame you for the accident and that will become an important piece of evidence against you. Getting into even a minor accident is stressful and frustrating, and you probably just want to put it behind you. Even the cheapest damage in 14 such trials involving seven vehicle pairings produced almost $3,000 in total lossessix. The rankings and listings of our reviews, tools and all other content are based on objective analysis, and we fully own our opinions. Typically if the police don't show up at the scene of an accident it won't go on your driving record. I think most people will find a lawyer if and when they get into an accident (unlike a doctor, whos available whenever you need one), but it cant be a bad idea to do some research ahead of time and see who is available where you live. In busy jurisdictions, the police may not respond for minor fender-benders. Look for the car that hit you. Pay attention to the color, make and model, and the license plate number, just in case the other driver runs. https://cdn.wallethub.com/images/ng2-images/profile/default-company-avatar_Vad0fe6c_.svg.gz. If you arent taken directly to the hospital from the scene, have a medical evaluation as soon as possible, preferably the same day. Learn more about contacting your car insurance company after a car accident. If you see any beer cans or other open bottles of alcohol, photograph them. But you can still file a report with your local police department, which could come in handy later. Here's what to know at the outset: Even when a car accident seems to be minor, with no apparent injuries and little in the way of visible vehicle damage, it's still important to take a few key steps, including: Get more details on what to do after a car accident. Most of the time when youre driving, you are just trying to get from one point to another. Unless there is a serious dispute over who caused the accident, your property damage claim should be resolved quickly by the claims adjuster. State laws range from one to six years, but two to three is most common. It would help if you did the same. The helpfulness of a financial advisor's answer is not indicative of future advisor performance. Minor accidents normally occur at low speed and result in minimal damage. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Contact us for answers. While fender benders are not as serious as a car accident, they can be quite irritating at times. If youve completely recovered from soft-tissue injuries like bruises, small cuts, or muscle sprains, total the cost of your medical bills and lost wages. You have the right to do so after any collision. Property damage is usually easier to see, but you may not find out about major problems with the alignment, suspension, or exhaust system until your car is in the shop weeks later. Each state has its own statute of limitations for filing a claim in court, and deadlines can be different for personal injury and property damage claims. To do this youll need evidence. Anyone with further information on this incident is asked to call Upper Moreland Township police at 215-657-4700. At the very least, anyone who has been in an auto accident in Arizona is required to exchange information with the other driver. Unfortunately, based on your answers, we will not be able to help you. Once the blemishes on your record are older than the look-back period, however, they are no longer a factor in setting your rates. In Florida, for example, causing an accident while under the influence stays on your record for 75 years, basically your lifetime. After all, its never a good time to be in an accident. You could be seriously injured and not realize it. If there's a severe injury or significant vehicle damage, you may be required to call the police. This is non-negotiable, so dont let the other driver try to talk you out of calling the cops or involving the insurance company. Your insurance company will guide you through the claims process and contact the other drivers insurance provider on your behalf, if the person who hit your car left a note. Minor car accidents typically cause only minor dents and dings to your car. report and factor it into your rate. But if youre involved in a minor car accident where nobody was injured, follow this checklist below so you dont forget any critical steps in the process: The law requires you to stop your vehicle at the scene of an accident, even if it was a minor fender-bender or just a scrape. Almost half of all accidents do not result in a police report and do not involve serious injuries or . There are several things you should do after an accident, even if it's just a fender bender. [WA St] I was driving my partners car for a quick errand around the block and lightly hit a guy speeding past me as I was making a right turn leaving an underground parking garage - he was in a blind spot driving past parked van and was going a bit faster than I expected so I . The only time it is OK to skip reporting an accident to insurance is if it happens in your car, no one is injured, and only your own property is damaged. Medical Care: Dont refuse medical care at the scene. Does your driving record follow you from state to state? What would be considered a clean driving record? Even for accidents involving only vehicle damage, some states still require drivers to report the accident if the damage is over a certain amount, typically $1,000 or $2,500. However, sometimes serious, hard injuries happen from low-impact automobile accidents. Videos are also a handy way of showing the flow of traffic and changing traffic lights. Privacy Policy. The insurance company may also send an adjuster to the scene of the accident or to inspect damaged property in person. Contact the police to file an accident report. These raise your risk in the eyes of an insurance company because they show you dont obey traffic laws designed to prevent crashes. If the accident was minor, I would recommend taking photographs of your vehicle so she cant later claim that the accident was more severe than it really was. Allow the other driver to write down your drivers license number. How much is car insurance & what determines your price? Your state's laws determine when and how you need to report a car accident (even a seemingly minor one) to law enforcement or other government authorities. As time goes on, evidence degrades and memories become foggy. Call the police to report the accident. Making a report is not the same thing as filing a claim. While there are situations when it makes sense to wait, its almost always in your best interest to file a claim with your insurance company right away. The other driver may even claim to have witness statements, gathered after you left the scene of the accident. If youve been injured in an accident, you may qualify for a settlement. Insurers look for accident reports and both major and minor driving violations. To illustrate just how costly fender benders can be, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) staged seven low-speed collisions between several new vehicles. If the police arent coming to the scene, you may attempt to get a statement from an at-fault driver if he/she is willing. I asked for estimates but I still havent seen it. You may also have to file a police report if property damage exceeds a certain amount, but the exact number varies greatly by state. WalletHub Answers is a free service that helps consumers access financial information. But that does not mean you do not qualify. Check your policy or contact your insurer directly for exact deadlines. After promptly reporting, youll have some time to file the official claim. If your car is hit while parked, you can use your collision insurance or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to pay for the damage. What happens if you crash during a driving lesson? Unless you stay at the scene, you are giving the other driver the opportunity to make a report without your input. But not having one wont bar you from being able to file a claim or lawsuit. report a claim Some injuries, like whiplash and brain injuries, may not show symptoms for several hours or even days. If it does raise your rates, take the time to compare insurance companies. If the other driver caused the accident, then you could file a bodily injury claim with their insurer. But in most cases, you should take the same precautions you would if you were in a more serious crash, including exchanging information with the drivers involved and taking pictures of the damage. For example, in California, drivers of any vehicle involved in a car accident must make a written report of the crash to the California Highway Patrol or local police within 24 hours, if the crash resulted in injuries or death. Interested in our exclusive Partner program to grow your law firm? Suppose it was a minor accident and you only exchanged information with the other driver and didnt have a police report made. she stop and i did too half of car in the road .she got out of her car and i ask her did she want to called the police , and she said nothing and got back in the car and when home . the amount you'd recover for your vehicle damage is less than or around as much as your deductible you'd need to pay as part of the claim process. Tell the dispatcher if there are any dangers, like leaking fuel, or if traffic is blocked by the accident. If youre using a smartphone, turn on your location services setting. You consent that the funding company you are matched with or a call center may contact you by phone and/or text, even if you are on a Do Not Call Registry. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company. Time limits are in place to protect the insurance companys ability to investigate a claim. jQuery("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: scrollToPosition }, 1000); Police still go to crashes involving injuries or death, hit and run, DUI or where damaged vehicles are. At night, take photos using a flash and no flash see which setting shows the true lighting at the scene and whether the damages are visible in the photos. If you dont file a police report right after a car accident, at least make sure to exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver, and photograph the damage to both vehicles as well as the full scene of the accident. Add one or two times that amount for pain and suffering to come up with your expected compensation. The accident report is an important piece of evidence and includes information such as what kinds of vehicles were involved, what kinds of damages were sustained, and how the accident happened. WalletHub editorial content on this page is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. Each state has its own. Virginia limits insurers to checking only three years of history. Whether you think youre at fault or not, dont apologize. 4604 49th St N, Suite 5006 St. Petersburg, FL 33709. For example, if your insurance company has a look-back period of five years, an accident you had in 2014 would stop affecting your rates in 2019. An Auto Shop was on the right. So far so good! How soon after a car accident should I file the report with the state? While it wont have the weight of a police report, a copy of the incident report will at least prove the date and location of the accident. I would tell your neighbor to go ahead and file a claim with your insurance company. Some injuries may take hours or even days to show up, and certain types of vehicle damage aren't visible to the naked eye. 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