After a car accident, one of the first steps most people take is contacting the police to report the incident, and doing so before leaving the scene is often beneficial. If, for any reason, you do not wait for the police, you still need to report a car accident. At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, our Pennsylvania car accident lawyer recommends contacting the police to report the car accident right away, but under the law, you have only 5 days to act.
How Long Do You Have to Report the Car Accident to the Police?
Under Pennsylvania law, you have 5 days from the date of the incident to file a police report for the incident. It is critical to take this step to protect yourself and provide the police with an opportunity to investigate. Under Pa. C.S.A. §3744, you must report the traffic accident in certain situations:
- There is an injury involved in the car accident
- Someone died as a result of the accident
- There was damage to the vehicles that the vehicles could not be driven away from the accident location
In situations where these circumstances are present, you have a legal obligation to contact the police and provide details about what occurred, who was involved, and what the outcome of the incident was. Avoid missing this step because it can work in your favor later. If you need help completing a police report for a car accident, Rand Spear’s legal team can offer support.
The Uninsured Motorist or the At-Fault Party Did Not Stop
In situations where the at-fault party did not stop at the scene to provide documentation or the motorist does not have car insurance, it is necessary to file a police report about the incident. If you have uninsured motorist insurance, your policy may cover some of the losses you sustained in these situations. However, to do that, you must report the accident to the police.
How Long Do You Have to Report a Car Accident to Your Insurance Company in Pennsylvania?
You should contact your insurance company right away to let them know the accident occurred. Doing this helps to ensure the insurance company is made aware of the incident so that they can begin to process any necessary steps. It is always beneficial to start with a police report and then contact your insurance company.
There is no legal requirement to report the accident to the car insurance company. However, some insurance policies require that you do so and have stipulations on when you must act written within the car insurance policy. Typically, they require this to happen as soon as the accident occurs and certainly within the 5-day requirement for reporting the accident to the police.
Under the law, those with minor car damage who do not plan to report the claim to the insurance company for compensation do not legally have to report the incident. However, if there is any possibility that you will need to seek compensation or someone was hurt, it is critical to take action. Your insurance company will document the incident.
You Do Not Have to File a Claim with Your Insurance Company Immediately
Even though you should report the incident to the insurance company as soon as possible, you do not have to file a claim at that time. This initial contact is simply a step to inform the insurance company of what occurred and then determine what steps you can take to pursue repairs. If you are unsure if you should report it to the insurance company, contact our car accident attorney to gain insight into your legal options and review our personal injury verdicts and settlements.
How Long After a Car Accident Can You Claim Injury in Pennsylvania?
If you suffer an injury or other losses, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim with the at-fault parties. This is the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania. That means that if you expect to receive compensation from the at-fault party, you must act within 2 years of the actual accident date.
In situations where you do not do so, you may not be able to claim damage or injury costs to you. If you are approaching that two-year mark, it is best to contact our car accident lawyer right away to pursue legal support. There may be some instances in which you can work around this.
In every case, it is better not to wait too long to file a claim. The sooner you take action, the more likely it is to find the necessary evidence to back up your claim. Our car accident attorneys can offer the guidance you need to navigate these situations.
Why Reporting Your Car Accident Soon Is a Good Idea
It is rarely the case that waiting to file a car accident report is problematic, and there are some very good reasons to do so as soon as possible. If you know the other party was at fault, filing a claim helps to protect you from the losses you incurred. Here are several steps to take after a car accident:
- When possible, contact the police at the time of the accident so they can document the details of the case.
- If you did not file a police report, do so now by visiting the police station in the local community where the accident occurred because you might not be able to claim a car accident without filing a police report.
- Contact the insurance company right away, but do not file your claim just yet. This allows them to be alerted to the incident.
Avoid pursuing a claim with the insurance company just yet. Wait until you know what your losses may be. We also suggest contacting a car accident attorney before taking that step.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorney in Pennsylvania
At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, we provide our clients with exceptional legal support and guidance throughout the claims process and reporting. Do not wait to give us a call for a free consultation that can answer many of the questions you have. Call us now.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
