Vehicle accidents are common; there were more than 284,000 crashes in North Carolina in 2023. According to a report issued by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, the number of accidents in 2023 was higher than in 2022. Many accidents are considered minor fender-benders, but some may be serious. More than 1,100 drivers died in vehicle accidents last year alone. Accidents are often stressful, and drivers need to know when to file a police report.
Call the Police After a Car Accident
Generally, a driver should call the police after any type of vehicle accident. The law requires you to call police or highway patrol anytime an accident results in an injury or death or damage to property in an amount higher than $1,000. Law enforcement will interview drivers and witnesses and investigate the accident. The police will make a report of the accident. Drivers and insurance companies will be able to review the accident report after it has been filed. The accident report documents the facts of the incident. In some cases, the police will file criminal charges against a driver, such as in a hit-and-run.
What If No Police Report is Made?
A police report is a way to protect you against potential problems that could arise later. Without a report, it could be difficult for an insurance company to determine which driver was at fault and, therefore, could deny a claim. Although you can legally file an insurance claim without a police report, insurance companies typically utilize the report. A claim could be delayed while the insurance company tries to gather the information it needs to move forward. There are times when you may not have called the police after an accident. In those instances, you should report the accident later.
File a Police Report
If the police did not make a report at the scene of the accident, you should file a police report on your own. File a report as soon as possible after the crash. It is important to provide police with the details of the accident. You can file a report online, or you may go to your local police station to fill out a report. In North Carolina, you have up to three years to make an injury or damages claim. The police accident report is a DMV-349. The report records a number of data points that are instrumental in the review of an accident.
Obtain a Copy of the Accident Report
After a police report has been made, you may request a copy of it for your records. You may request a copy of the police report online, by mail, or in person at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The Crash Report Request Form is DMV TR-67A. Fill out the form and remit the required payment. A copy of the report should be available 10 days following the incident. Provide as much information as possible, such as your name and driver’s license number, vehicle license plate number, and date and location of the accident.
If you were hurt in a vehicle accident that was no your fault, you may be owed money for your injuries. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to schedule a consultation to discuss the details of your accident.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/records-reports/Pages/crash-reports.aspx
https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/north-carolina-traffic-crash-facts-2023/6064344
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https://www.freeimages.com/photo/car-accident-1446905
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