{"id":5477,"date":"2021-04-06T10:02:46","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T17:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-personal-injury\/?p=5477"},"modified":"2022-10-03T16:24:56","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T23:24:56","slug":"police-report-car-accident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-personal-injury\/es\/blog\/police-report-car-accident\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I Need to File a Police Report for a Car Accident?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

A car crash is always an unwelcome surprise, but they\u2019re more common than you might think. According to statistics, there are 6 million<\/a> auto collisions every year in the United States. In the event of an accident, you already have to deal with property damage and insurance issues, but what about filing a police report?<\/p>\n

If you or the other driver is injured, seek medical attention before doing anything else. If, on the other hand, the crash was minor and no injuries occurred, you might be tempted to skip reporting the accident to law enforcement. Plenty of drivers assume that swapping insurance information is enough if no one was hurt. However, attorneys recommend that you file a report, even when it isn\u2019t legally required. If you were the driver at fault, skipping this step could end up costing you.<\/p>\n

When are You Required to File an Accident Report?<\/h4>\n

Arizona law states that you must report an accident<\/a> to the relevant authorities if the crash caused death or bodily injury. Police in Arizona are required to complete a report of the crash within 24 hours of the investigation if the accident caused injuries, death, or over $2,000 worth of damage to the drivers or vehicles involved.<\/p>\n

Why File a Police Report?<\/h4>\n

Why should you bother to file a report when you\u2019re in an accident that doesn\u2019t cause injuries or significant property damage? Having law enforcement record the details of the situation will protect you in case the other driver tries to misrepresent what happened. The police report from your accident will count as supporting evidence for your claim, which is especially important when you weren\u2019t at fault. If you don\u2019t file a police report, the insurance agency could argue that you didn\u2019t call for help, so the crash must not have been very serious.<\/p>\n

With this additional information, you improve your chances of receiving compensation after getting into an accident caused by someone else\u2019s negligence. Even if the collision was your fault, the information in the police report will help during the insurance process. The report will include details about the parties involved, their insurance policies, and facts about the accident. If you don\u2019t file a police report, you might not be able to prove the crash occurred or identify the other party involved in the collision.<\/p>\n

Steps for Filing a Police Report<\/h4>\n

The best method for filing will depend on the specific county you\u2019re in, but common outlets include highway patrol, the local sheriff, or the closest police station. You might also be able to find an online reporting tool. However, if you\u2019re having trouble accessing any of these options, call 911 and they will help you figure out what to do. Emergency services and police will arrive at the scene. Then, the officers will investigate the crash to decide who was involved, how it happened, and which driver was at fault.<\/p>\n

Most auto accident police reports will include:<\/strong><\/p>\n