Consequences of No Police Report

There are several reasons why the police may not come to the scene of the accident. (1) you and the person involved may not call the police; (2) it may be in a private parking lot or (3) it may be an accident with little or no damage or injuries at the time. That can cause complications in getting your case resolved. You won’t have the benefit of an authority documenting vehicles, license plate numbers, driver’s license numbers, or who was at fault. You can be your own investigator and that is probably a good idea.

You have a cellphone and the ability to take a photograph of the other person’s license plate. You can take a photograph of the person as well as their driver’s license plate and insurance card in the event that there is a question about who was driving later on. The property damage can also be documented with regard to the location of the damage to the vehicle. A photograph of where the vehicles were at the time of the accident may prove extremely helpful if the other person’s story changes at a later date. That story often changes from the scene of the accident up to the time that a person talks to the insurance adjuster about what happened. You can go from feeling like a good Samaritan by not calling the authorities to being a victim of the insurance company’s desire to limit or deny claims.

The insurance adjuster’s job is to limit claims that they “don’t feel are justified”. That means they are not going to resolve any of the differences in your favor. If the evidence doesn’t exist, they are going to assume the opposite. For instance, if both parties claim that they had a green light then the adjuster is going to support their insured and deny liability. That’s why it’s important to take the name and telephone number of any witness at the scene of the accident. You could also record a witness giving a brief statement about what they saw and who they felt were at fault. You never know when you might need this information at a later time to present to the insurance adjuster so that they cannot try to deny your claim.

The police are very busy, especially in larger cities. They are going to prioritize calls. If you have been involved in a car wreck where there is property damage and you may be slightly hurt, there may not be a response by the authorities. Also, many people are full of adrenaline and not hurt at the scene of the accident and ultimately don’t feel the full effect of their injuries until later. The only thing the insurance companies like about the investigation by the police at the scene is if you claim not to need an ambulance or not be injured at that time. The at fault party’s story usually changes after they leave the scene, and you likely begin to feel injuries at a later date. Be proactive in your situation. Make sure you have the “evidence” to prove your version if the police don’t create their own.