Why Must I Call the Police After an NJ Car Accident?

When you are involved in a car accident, the other driver may request that you do not call the police, instead proposing that you handle the matter without involving your insurers. While this may seem like an easy way to get the money you need for repairs, there are many drawbacks. In addition, there are circumstances where you are legally required to contact the police following a car accident. As such, the following blog explores when you must file a report, why filing an official accident report is in your best interest, and how a Passaic County car accident lawyer can help you fight for the justice you deserve.

Do I Have to Call the Police After a Car Accident?

If you are involved in an accident, you are legally required to contact the police under certain circumstances. If property damage exceeds $500, someone sustains an injury, or a death occurs, the police must be notified.

However, even if none of these circumstances arise, it is still in your best interest to call the police and file a report. Unfortunately, if you and the other driver agree to handle the damage without involving the insurance, it can backfire. When you contact the negligent driver to settle this matter, they may flat out deny their involvement in the accident. Without an official report, there may not be much you can do to recover the compensation you deserve.

In addition, injuries may not appear immediately after an accident. Some injuries, like concussions or internal organ injuries, can take hours, days, or weeks before symptoms appear, leading you to believe you are fine the whole time. As such, if you then try to file a claim with the negligent driver’s insurance, they may deny your claim as no accident report was filed.

Finally, you’ll find that if you fail to report an accident when property damage exceeding $500, injury, or death occurs, you can face fines and even potential criminal consequences, like a license suspension or hit-and-run offense. As such, it is always in your best interest to file a report following an accident, no matter how insignificant the damage seems.

What Additional Steps Should I Take Following a Collision?

After you call the police, there are several steps you can take to help protect yourself in the event you decide to pursue a lawsuit against the negligent driver. When you call emergency services to request a police presence, you should also ask for emergency medical technicians. Even if you feel okay, you should let the first responders assess you for injuries, as they may notice an injury that the adrenaline in your body has masked. Regardless, seeing the emergency medical technicians can help you establish immediate medical care, which can be beneficial if you choose to pursue a claim.

If you are physically able to, you should also gather evidence from the scene. The police will speak to each driver to obtain their information and account of what happened. In the meantime, you can take photos and videos of the scene. This includes the damage to both vehicles, road conditions and markings, and any visible injuries you sustained. You should also gather the contact information of any witnesses who can testify to what they saw.

As you can see, navigating the aftermath of an accident can be incredibly difficult. That is why it’s imperative to connect with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of August R. Soltis, we understand how complicated it can be to handle a lawsuit while also healing from injuries inflicted by a negligent party. That is why our firm will do everything possible to help you through these matters with as much ease as possible. Contact our office today to learn how we can fight for you.