Should you call the police for a fender bender type collision?
Many of us have been there before… waiting at a light, or a stop sign and you feel a small jolt. You get out of your vehicle and check your rear bumper. There is a small scratch, or maybe a minor dent. You feel fine. At least, you think you feel fine.
So, should you call the police?
If you want the short answer – if there is serious injury, a fatality, or extensive property damage, then yes you must call the police to report the collision. However, if you are not injured or only lightly injured there are still many reasons to report the crash.
Some Considerations Include:
- A police officer will check insurance and registration status of the driver’s involved.
- The police can determine fault in a collision which may make things easier later when it comes to the insurance claims.
- When you are in a collision – even if it is minor – your adrenaline is high and you may not think clearly to assess damages to your car or pain to yourself.
- On that note, often soft tissue injuries (pain, sprains, nerve injury) will show up later. Sometimes the pain arrives the next day, or even a few days later. Even if you feel “fine” five minutes after a crash, things might feel different several hours later.
- Additionally, if you at all suspect you are injured (even a small injury) you should be checked by a medical professional to rule out serious injury.
As you see, should you call the police for a fender bender is not simply a legal question. Calling to get the report can make things easier for you later if you need to put in a claim. Or if you are in fact injured. Or if the other driver does not have insurance.
Other helpful info:
One final note on fender benders – car seats should always be replaced after an MVA. Crashes can cause internal damage to some car seats that render them less safe. Call your insurance carrier and report the collision to have your car seat replaced!
If you have questions about this or other concerns following a collision, call for a FREE CONSULTATION with one of Graham & Mauer’s experienced attorneys.
