Driving on a scenic road at twilight is the perfect way to let all of the stress of the day slip away from you. The ride soothes the soul, that is, until a driver of another car suddenly appears around the corner of a sharp turn.
To avoid hitting the other car, you swerve off the road and drive into an embankment. Fortunately, the other driver stopped and returned to where you sit. The question now is do you call the police and if you don’t, how do you handle no police report when driven off the road?
Reasons Why There is No Police Report
There are some instances when you will not need a police report. Both drivers might not have any damage to their vehicles and if there is damage, it is minor enough to avoid calling the nearest law enforcement agency. If no one involved in the accident suffered any injuries, then you can probably take care of filing an insurance claim, without the need to include a formal police report.
Even minor accidents can shake you up to the point of not thinking clearly enough to call the police. The stress of having to deal with another driver, as well as the frantic concern for your health and the health of your car, can make calling the nearest enforcement agency a low priority.
Sometimes, calling the police results in a law enforcement officer stating that there is not a need for a police report. When this happens, it is up to you to gather the evidence required to make a convincing claim filed with your insurance company.
Evidence to Collect When There is No Police Report
In the case of no police report when driven off the road, you will have to assume the responsibility of collecting evidence for presenting to your insurance company. Start by taking statements from witnesses at the scene of the crash. You cannot count on bystanders remaining at the scene for an extended period.
You need to take their statements as quickly and accurately as possible. Then, you can start gathering physical evidence, such as shooting photographs of every vehicle involved in the crash, as well as images taken of the accident scene. It is also important to take pics that confirm the weather conditions and the condition of the road at the time of the accident.
Why Contacting an Attorney is a Good Idea
Simply put, hiring a personal injury lawyer can likely increase your chances of winning an insurance claim. You also should work with a lawyer because each state has established different rules for reporting car accidents. To get your claim underway, complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page today!
