Even a minor car accident can result in a lot of paperwork, from police reports, insurance claims, DMV reports… USA each state has its own set of rules about how, when, and how long you have to report a car accidentif necessary.
In general, it is best to call the local police and wait for them to arrive on the scene so they can file an accident report. But there are some cases where the police may not come if the accident is very minor.
If that happens, it might be up to you to decide whether to report the accident or not. If you are thinking of handling the traffic accident privately, that is, without contacting the company auto insurance of any of the drivers, you may be tempted not to report it to the police altogether. And in some cases you may or may not. Read on to find out how and how much time you have to report a traffic accident.
Considerations to take into account if you have a traffic accident
Each state requires a DMV report for an accident in which someone is injured or killed. But some states do not require a report if the damages add up to less than a certain amount of money. In addition, the time limits vary according to when the reports must be submitted.
A police report is a good document, whether you are using insurance or not, as it will include details of the accident (date, time, location, etc.), name, address, phone numbers driver’s license, of plates and other crucial information for each driver.
It is normal that a traffic accident can cause drivers to feel shock and prevent them from thinking clearly, even minor, so you may forget to gather information that you will need later. There may also be evidence in a police report that could indicate which driver is at fault. This would prove useful in damage negotiations.
An accident that generates a police report is filed with the DMV. In other words, you should only pay attention to the your state’s reporting requirements if there is no police report on your accident. Although, even if there is a police report, it is likely that the police will not submit it to the DMV on time.
If that happens, it is your responsibility to make sure the DMV receives a report within the deadline. If a ticket is issued related to the accident (speeding, failing to yield, unsafe lane change, etc.), the police will notify the DMV as any violation is recorded on the driver’s record.
All parties involved in a car accident must make their own report to the DMV. If the other party files a report with the DMV and claims that it is your fault, you could be at a disadvantage by not reporting it.
Report a traffic accident in the US
Considering all of the above, and so that you can report a traffic accident at the correct time, and in order to speed up this process so that it develops efficiently for you, we present below the requirements of each state When reporting a traffic accident:
| Accident notification by state | ||
|---|---|---|
| Condition | The accident must be reported if there is: | Term |
| Alabama | Death, injury or property damage of more than $500 by an uninsured motorist | 30 days |
| Alaska | Death, injury or property damage of more than $2,000 | 10 days |
| Arizona | Death, injury, property damage over $300, or if no settlement is reached within 6 months | 6 months |
| Arkansas | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000. | Immediate (death or injury) or 30 days (property damage) |
| California | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | 10 days |
| Colorado | Death, injury or any damage to property | 10 days |
| Connecticut | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | 5 days |
| Delaware | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $500 | Immediately |
| D.C. | Property damage over $250 | 5 days |
| Florida | Death or injury, property damage over $500 | As soon as possible |
| Georgia | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $500 | Immediately |
| Hawaii | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $3,000 | Immediately |
| Idaho | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,500 | Immediately |
| Illinois | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $1,500 or $500 if any vehicle is uninsured | 10 days |
| Indiana | Death, injury, or property damage over $750 | Immediately |
| Iowa | The drivers No are required to file a report for an accident involving death, injury or damage of $1,500 or more if the accident was investigated by the police. | 3 days if report is required |
| Kansas | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,500 | Immediately |
| Kentucky | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $500 | 10 days |
| Louisiana | Death, injury or property damage of more than $500. If the damage is more than $100, 1 day. | Immediate or 1 day |
| Maine | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | Immediately |
| Maryland | death or injury | 15 days |
| Massachusetts | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | 5 days |
| Michigan | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | Immediately |
| Minnesota | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | 10 days |
| Mississippi | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $500 | 10 days |
| Missouri | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $500 | 5 days |
| Mountain | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | Immediately |
| Nebraska | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | 10 days |
| Snowfall | all accidents | Immediately |
| new hampshire | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | 5 days |
| New Jersey | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $500 | Immediately |
| New Mexico | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $500 | Immediately |
| New York | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,500 | 10 days |
| North Carolina | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | Immediately |
| North Dakota | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000. (Reporting is not required for property damage with only an undomesticated animal.) | Immediate |
| Ohio | all accidents | Immediately |
| Oklahoma | Death, injury or property damage of more than $500. | Immediate (death or injury) or 6 months (property damage) |
| Oregon |
| 72 hours |
| Pennsylvania | Death, injury or if the vehicle is disabled | 5 days |
| Rhode Island | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | 21 days |
| South Carolina | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | 15 days |
| South Dakota | Death, injury, property damage more than $1,000 to one person’s property or $2,000 in total property damage | Immediately |
| Tennessee | Death, injury or property damage of more than $50. | Immediately (death, injury, or property damage between $50 and $400) or 20 days (death, injury, or property damage over $400) |
| Texas | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000. | Immediate (death or injury) or 10 days (property damage) |
| Utah | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | 10 days |
| Vermont | Death, injury, or property damage of more than $3,000 | 3 days |
| Virginia | death or injury | Immediately |
| Washington | Death, injury or property damage of more than $700 | 4 days |
| West Virginia | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | Immediately |
| Wisconsin | Death, injury, property damage of more than $1,000, or government property damage of $200 or more | Immediately to the police by the fastest means of communication |
| Wyoming | Death, injury or property damage of more than $1,000 | Immediately |
| Puerto Rico | Injury or property damage | 4 hours |
| Font : AAA Digest of Motor Laws | ||
It is worth mentioning that if you have been in an accident and you are not sure what to do, you can consult with a car accident attorney for guidance on how to proceed in a car accident in your state.
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