No Police Report – No Problem
Los Angeles Police Department has downsized its specialized units and stopped responding in person to traffic collisions.
Victims of misdemeanor hit-and-run crashes and collisions with minor injuries will be advised to file a report online. Since the new move by the police is to not investigate your accident, it is up to you to create your own accident report.
If you are involved in an automobile accident and file an insurance claim, the details that you provide are essential. Insurance companies need these details to establish fault and settle an insurance claim. They might be able to establish fault as well as gain the names and numbers of witnesses to call.
Your details will make it easier for your insurance company to “see” what happened so they can determine how they want to proceed with adjusting the claim. A successful insurance claim could be dependent upon how well you collect information about the accident.
If you hire an attorney to protect your rights, this information will help them on your case.
Even though the police will no longer respond to traffic collisions, California Vehicle Code Section 16025 requires that all parties exchange contact and insurance information.
Specifically, California Vehicle Code Section 16025 states as follows:
(a) Every driver involved in the accident shall, unless rendered incapable, exchange with any other driver or property owner involved in the accident and present at the scene, all of the following information:
(1) Driver’s name and current residence address, driver’s license number, vehicle identification number, and current residence address of registered owner.
(2) Evidence of financial responsibility, as specified in Section 16020. If the financial responsibility of a person is a form of insurance, then that person shall supply the name and address of the insurance company and the number of the insurance policy.
(b) Any person failing to comply with all of the requirements of this section is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
You should record the date, time, and place of the accident. This can help you prove when the accident occurred. You should also obtain witness names and phone numbers and take photos of the vehicles and the scene of the car crash.
Auto accidents can be stressful
You are emotionally shook up, you may be hurt. You do your best to talk to the other driver to get the information you need.
You may not remember everything you were supposed to ask for. You may forget something that you were told at the accident scene.
Your handwriting may be unreadable because you were shaking.
You may make a mistake in the information you obtained.
Auto accidents can affect victims in many different ways. Following an accident, many people can experience emotional distress. You may remember things that you want to add to your notes about the accident.