You approach an intersection that has a red light facing your direction. To your right, the stoplight turns yellow and instead of coming to a stop, a driver punches the gas to try to make it through the stoplight before it turns red. Not seeing the other driver, you move your vehicle forward when your stoplight turns green.
We have the classic case of an accident at an intersection. The question now is do you call the nearest law enforcement agency and if not, how do you handle the lack of a police report on an accident at an intersection.
Why Would There be No Police Report?
Let’s say a driver next to you slightly veers from his lane into your lane right when the light turns green. The resulting impact is minor, with it leaving a small dent on the right side passenger door. Do you need to call police?
The answer is most likely no, as the exchange of contact and insurance information should be sufficient. Are there any other instances when you do not need a police report after an accident at an intersection?
Most accidents do not require a police report to accompany a claim filed with an insurance company. Private property accidents, which can include a family member backing into your vehicle, do not require the involvement of a law enforcement agency. Surprisingly, the same private property principle applies to the local grocery store parking lot that the law has determined is also private property.
The times when you should call the police and obtain a formal police report is when there is significant damage to at least one vehicle and/or one or more of the people involved in the accident at an intersection received suffered a serious injury.
Evidence to Submit in Lieu of a Police Report
If you and the other parties involved in a car accident at an intersection agree not to contact a law enforcement agency, you will still need to present much of the same evidence collected by the police to the insurance companies involved in the case. Photographs of the damage to all vehicles, as well as photographs of the accident scene present hard evidence for insurance companies to use for evaluating claims. You should also take statements from credible witnesses and present a thorough description of each vehicle involved in the accident at an intersection.
Although you can win an insurance claim, without submitting the formal police report, remember that the process for approval will take longer. Insurance companies want to take the time required to scrutinize insurance claims closely, especially claims that do not include the filing of a formal police report.
Consult with a Licensed Personal Injury Lawyer
When you have to deal with your insurance company and the insurance companies representing the other drivers involved in an accident at an intersection, you can rest assured both the drivers and the insurance companies will be represented by accomplished litigators. You have to even the legal playing field by using the services of an experienced personal injury attorney. Sometimes, injuries suffered after a car accident do not appear to be serious until days or weeks after an accident.
