Should I Call Police to the Scene of My Car Accident?

If you're involved in a car accident, it's usually a good idea to call local law enforcement and see if they'll come to the scene. In some situations, the law in your state might require you to make that call (or at least report the crash in the hours or days afterward).

Let's take a closer look at how a law enforcement officer can help at the car accident scene, and how any report they make can come into play later on, if you end up making a car accident claim.

Why Call Police to the Scene of Your Car Accident?

Whether they're from the local police or sheriff's office, the state police, or the state highway patrol, a trained law enforcement officer can be an invaluable source of help and information at the scene of a car accident. An officer can:

• call for emergency medical care (of course, when someone has serious car accident injuries, you should call 911 as soon as possible, before calling the police)
• protect the accident scene, and
• investigate and document the potential cause of the accident.

It's important to note that, especially in larger metropolitan areas, a law enforcement agency might not dispatch an officer to the scene of your accident, even if you call and request that they send someone.

When You Should Call The Police After a Car Accident

If you have any doubt about whether you should call the police after a car crash, it's better to err on the side of caution and make the call. Start with the non-emergency number of the local law enforcement agency. They can point you in the right direction as far as next steps.

Most states require drivers to call the police to a car accident scene in certain situations, including:

• when anyone is injured, or
• when property damage exceeds a certain dollar amount threshold (these thresholds are often surprisingly low, and since estimating the cost of vehicle damage is never easy, this is a big reason why erring on the side of reporting the accident is usually the right call).

It's especially important to call law enforcement to the scene when you think the other driver was driving under the influence.

You Might Need to Report the Car Accident Elsewhere

Depending on the law where you live and the details surrounding your car accident, you might need to report the crash to your state's department of motor vehicles or similar agency, on top of reporting it to law enforcement. In some states, if a law enforcement officer responds to the scene, that can be enough to relieve you of your own additional reporting obligations when it comes to government agencies. But it's important to understand the law in your state when it comes to a driver's obligation to report a car accident. Check out our state-specific car accident laws collection for the details.

You'll also need to report the accident to your car insurance company. Every car insurance policy requires the insured policyholder to report any incident that might trigger coverage. So it's a good idea to let your insurer know about the accident as soon as possible. Learn more about contacting your car insurance company after an accident.

What Is a Car Accident Police Report?

In cases involving injuries, substantial damage to vehicles, or motor vehicle law violations, the officer will prepare a police report in connection with the crash. Make sure to get the name and badge number of the officer and the police agency that the officer represents so you can get a copy of the accident report after it's written (see below). Get the report number if it's available. You might have to pay a small fee to get the report, but it's worth it. Everyone involved in a car insurance claim or car accident lawsuit relies heavily on the police report.

Police reports typically document any physical evidence (like tire marks) at the scene of an accident and any witness statements. The report will list what traffic citations, if any, an officer issued and maybe even the officer's opinion about who caused the accident. In other words, police reports are powerful evidence that can help you speed up the insurance claims process or win your lawsuit in court.

Should I Call the Police After a Minor Car Accident?

Should you still call the police even after a fender-bender? The answer is usually yes. Even after a minor accident, a police officer can help you sort things out, and document what happened in case your situation changes in the future. For example, the other driver might seem friendly and cooperative at the scene and then deny all responsibility later. Or your accident injuries might not show up right away. Call the police department's non-emergency line and ask a dispatcher for advice.

If the police decline to come to the scene of your minor accident, you can go to the nearest police station and file a report yourself after you exchange information with the other driver. If there are any witnesses, get their names and contact information as well. Make a note of the exact location of the accident and how it happened. If you can, take pictures of the vehicles and the scene from multiple vantage points.

What If the Law Enforcement Agency Tells You to Just Exchange Information?

If you call the police, and they tell you to just exchange information with the other driver, what information should you exchange? At a minimum, make sure you get from the other driver(s)—and that the other driver(s) get from you—all of the following information:

• full name and contact information
• insurance company and policy number
• driver's license and license plate number, and
• type, color, and model of vehicle.

If the driver's name is different from the name of the insured, establish what the relationship is and take down the name and address for each person.

Ask to see documents from which you can copy this information, such as a driver's license and an insurance verification card. Why? Sometimes, people—like drivers who don't have car insurance—give false information. If the other driver won't let you verify information, call the police and insist that the driver stay until the police arrive.

If you are suspicious about the information you are getting, call the other driver's insurance company from the scene of the accident to verify for yourself that the other driver has given you accurate information. But only verify coverage. Don't give accident details to the other driver's insurance company. Not yet. You can do that when you're away from the scene of the accident and have had a chance to calm down and talk to your own insurer.

What Should You Do While Waiting for the Police to Arrive After a Car Accident?

If you call the police after a minor car accident, it might take an hour or more for an officer to arrive. It's important to wait for them. While you are waiting, you should:

• assess the situation
• help anyone who is hurt
• gather evidence
• get the names and contact information for any witnesses
• protect the scene against further damage, and
• watch what you say to the other driver and anyone else at the scene.

Once a police officer arrives, only talk to the officer about the specifics of your accident. Provide the information that the officer requests, but say no more. Remember, any statement you make could end up in the police report and be used against you in your insurance claim or in court. Get more tips on what to do after a car accident.

A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

After you notify the police, be sure to notify your insurance company that you were involved in a car accident. As we mentioned earlier, the law might not require it, but your insurance policy almost certainly does.

Dealing with the police and insurance companies can be stressful and intimidating. You might want to hire a lawyer to do it for you. Learn more about how an attorney can help with your car accident claim, and get tips on finding the right injury lawyer for you and your case.