You have heard the timeless expression, “The more, the merrier.” Well, the expression is not appropriate for using in car accidents involving multiple drivers.
Picture a wintry day or even a soggy day that has turned the roads into water worlds. All it takes is for one driver to hit another driver and we have the start of a chain link reaction auto accident. Maybe not every vehicle in the chain is involved directly with the accident, but every driver from the car receiving the initial hit to the last car in the chain has to answer for the accident.
The question is not whether multiple car pile-ups happen on our roads and highways. You can go online and type the phrase “Multiple car pile ups in the United States” and read several stories of such crashes daily. No, the question is what do you do if there is no police report in an accident with multiple accidents.
Why You Might Not Need a Police Report
You would think a multiple car accident would be the ultimate reason for calling a law enforcement agency. After all, just the number of drivers involved should require a law enforcement official to analyze the scene closely and then acquire evidence to determine which driver was at fault.
In some cases, such as an auto accident that involves three cars, the damage to the cars might be barely visible or even not present. You call the closest police station and after informing the officer there were no injuries or damage to any of the vehicles, the officer on the other end of the line might say there is no need to file a police report. On the other hand, an accident involving several more drivers will prompt a law enforcement agency to respond to the crash.
What Evidence Do You Need to File an Insurance Claim?
A police report is the one document that insurance carriers focus on the most. It presents physical and anecdotal evidence of a vehicle accident to determine the cause of the crash, as well as who is legally responsible for the accident. Without a police report to file, you have to gather the physical and anecdotal evidence yourself.
This means taking plenty of photographs, including images that show the weather conditions and the condition of the road where the car accident took place. You should also photograph any vehicle damage and take pics of the accident scene.
Anecdotal evidence comes in the form of witness accounts of the auto accident. You have to write the witness statements down right after the accident for two reasons. First, you do not want valuable witnesses to leave the accident scene. Second, memory has a funny way of forgetting important details the longer you do not access it.
Have a Personal Injury Attorney on Your Side
Having to deal with no police report with multiple drivers might trigger plenty of questions from your auto insurance company. A state licensed personal injury lawyer can take over the presentation of evidence that a police report typically covers. Complete the Free Case Evaluation today!
