Can You File an Insurance Claim Without a Police Report?

After being involved in a car accident you might wonder whether you need to involve the police or not. What if neither you nor the other driver has injuries and the car damage is mild? Is a police report necessary if you need to make an insurance claim for a mild accident?

However, your accident may be more severe than you think. You might start to notice back or neck pain the following days. Or your car might start presenting issues that are related to the accident. If you have a report it can help you when you pursue compensation for those additional costs.

Is a Police Report Necessary to File an Insurance Claim?

In most cases, you are not required to have a police report in order to file an insurance claim. However, we highly recommend to have one because it can help you:

• Prove the other driver’s fault
• Back up evidence of your car’s damages
• Speed up the claims process

You will need a report as evidence if you need to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

Important Information the Police Report Can Provide

After you’re involved in an accident and call the police, they should create an accident report with all of the information about the accident. This report normally has information that can be used to prove your personal injury claim or insurance claim. The police report includes the following information:

• Who caused the accident
• The accident location
• The date and time of the accident
• Vehicle descriptions
• Driver descriptions
• Road descriptions
• Current weather conditions

If it’s certain that the other driver was the cause of your accident, the report will have notes about why the other driver is at fault. This information will make your claim process way smoother.

The accident report will also serve as a third-party description of what happened if you and your attorney file a lawsuit against the other driver.

The Problem With Not Having a Police Report

You can still file an insurance claim without having a report of the accident, but you will probably encounter some issues without it. Here are the most common issues you can come across.

The Insurance Company Will Doubt You

Insurance companies are not into paying much on injury claims. If you don’t have a police accident report to prove your insurance claim, the at-fault party’s insurance company will have to believe your side of the story, and that is very unlikely.

Not having a police report will make it very hard to get the insurer to take you seriously. You need the help of a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. They can help you gather additional evidence to prove the claim and protect yourself from the insurance company’s tactics.

If you were involved in a car accident while driving a rental car, you will definitely need a police report as part of proof for filing a claim.

You’ll Need More Documentation

When you don’t have an accident police report you need to have additional information to prove what happened in the accident. You need to be able to provide tangible evidence, including:

• Medical records
• Doctor bills
• Receipts
• Car repair quotes
• Pictures from the scene

Anyway, you need to include this information in your claim, but it is extremely important that you do it if you don’t have a police report.

You Might Have Trouble Proving Fault

Not all accidents have a person who is 100% responsible for the accident. For example, a left-turn accident can involve multiple at-fault parties. The police report of the accident can help know who is liable for your accident. Without this report, it is easier for the other party’s insurance company to take enough responsibility. And it will also make it harder to get coverage from your insurance company.

When to Get a Police Report

Not every accident needs a police report, but there are certain situations where getting one is very important.

An Accident with Another Driver

If you are involved in an accident with another driver it is always better to report it and get a copy of the police report. Even if the accident wasn’t that dangerous and you think you shouldn’t involve the police, you don’t really know if you have suffered injuries that could take a little while to appear. You could also be in shock and not realize your current medical situation.

It is better to get a police report after the accident takes place as it will help you protect your rights, especially if you file a lawsuit.

Theft or Vandalism

If someone broke into your car, stole something from your car, or vandalized it you need to get a police report. This is important because you need to be able to prove what happened and get the insurance coverage you deserve.

When You Might Not Need a Police Report

There are other situations where getting a police report is not necessary. However, even in the following instances, it is always best to contact a car accident attorney before making any decisions.

Hitting a Stationary Object

If you hit a stationary object when driving and the collision is your fault, you don’t necessarily need a report. However, if it wasn’t totally your fault, you might want to contact the police. The police will then file a report that includes all of the information about your car’s damage, any injuries you might suffer, and other details related to the accident. Everything in this report will help support your claim and move the process along.

Private Property Accident

If your accident took place on private property, the police will consider it as a personal matter and it won’t issue a report. However, if you’re not sure, it’s best to call the police either way. You can report the accident to the police just in case and then call an accident lawyer to guide you through the process.

Get a Free Consultation with a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer 

If your accident was caused by someone else you shouldn’t have to pay for the damages. Cogburn Law can help you at no risk to you. You don’t pay until we win. For a free consultation call us at (702) 748-7777.

Do you want to learn more about the auto accident claim process? Add your email below and we will send you our guide free of charge. It includes useful tips on things to avoid when going through a personal injury claim and how you can give yourself the best chance of winning it.

[optin-monster slug=”a5siegylyxstczci4nwr”]