Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Accidents happen quite frequently, and thankfully, most of these crashes are just minor fender benders. Many people wonder whether they should call the police after an accident, especially if it just seems minor. The police typically respond to major accidents and to minor accidents upon request. It is often advisable for anyone involved in a vehicle accident to contact the police.
When Does the Law Require a Crash Report?
North Carolina law states that reportable vehicle accidents require a report. Drivers have a responsibility to report all vehicle accidents except very minor incidents. A driver must report any accident in which anyone suffered an injury or fatality, as well as any accident with more than $1,000 in property damages. A driver should call the police, who will file a report of the accident. If the police were not called at the time of the crash, you should contact the non-emergency police number to determine how to proceed.
What if the Other Driver Asks Not to Call the Police?
Sometimes, a driver involved in an accident requests the other driver not call the police. Instead, they may state that they will handle the accident outside of insurance. If this happens to you, it is a red flag that indicates there could be a problem. A driver may not want to call the police if, for example, they are driving without insurance or without a driver’s license. In order to protect yourself from potential issues later, it is strongly recommended to call the police at the scene of the crash.
How Do I Know If An Accident Is Minor?
Accidents happen quickly, and the situation may be chaotic and distressing, so it may be difficult to immediately determine whether an accident is minor. Further, sometimes damage can be hidden from view, and you may only find out about it later. Most types of damage that occur to vehicles can easily cost more than $1,000 to repair. It is also important to note that a person may not know they are injured at the time of the crash and might only realize later that they were hurt. Therefore, even if you are unsure about the extent of damages, you should call the police or file an accident report.
Calling the Police is In Your Best Interest
In most cases, it is in your best interest to call the police after any type of vehicle collision. The police will take charge of the situation and ensure the safety of everyone involved as well as the public. They will request medical care if anyone is injured. In addition, the police will obtain information from the other driver, including their name, contact details, and insurance info. Importantly, the police will interview the drivers and witnesses to help determine how the accident occurred, which can be critical in determining fault or negligence. In some cases, law enforcement may issue a citation to a driver. Sometimes, if you don’t call the police, the other driver could deny responsibility or change their story as to how the crash occurred. Regardless of the severity of the crash, you will protect yourself by getting the police involved in the incident.
If you were hurt in an accident that was not your fault, you may be owed money from the negligent driver. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a free initial consultation.
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 and boating accidents. 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.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-166.1.html
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/negligence
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