Experiencing a car accident is terrifying and traumatic, especially if you’ve suffered painful injuries. It’s common to have questions about your rights and obligations after a car accident, including the question, “Do you always have to call the police?”
Under Washington Law RCW 46.52.030, the law states the following:
“Unless a report is to be made by a law enforcement officer … the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to the property of any one person…shall, within four days after such accident, make a written report of such accident to the chief of police of the city or town …”
Do I Have to Report an Accident If the Damage Is Minor?
The law in Washington requires drivers to “self-report” or to call the police from the scene of the accident if anyone has suffered an injury or a fatality, or if there is damage to one or more vehicles or other property. If the damage appears to be so insignificant that it would cost less than $500 to repair, and no one has suffered an injury, the law doesn’t require reporting it to the police. However, it’s crucial to exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver.
Most experienced Marysville car accident attorneys recommend always reporting an accident to the police unless there is no damage at all. If the accident happens outside of city limits, a driver can report the accident to the county sheriff’s department or highway patrol.
If you fail to call the police and the other involved motorist later claims to have suffered an injury, it can have challenging legal consequences.
If no officer is called to the scene, or the police do not arrive at the accident scene to make a report, the involved drivers must file a Washington car accident report within four days of the accident date.
Understanding the Importance of a Police Report After a Washington Car Accident
Washington’s car accident laws are under Chapter 46.52. 020 requires involved drivers to remain at the scene of the accident, or as close as safely possible to it after a crash, and to call the police to report the accident when there’s significant damage, an injury, or a fatality. When the police arrive, they generate an accident report with details that are crucial for a car accident compensation claim later. The accident report includes:
- The date, time, and location of the accident
- The contact and insurance information of all involved drivers
- The arriving officer’s observations at the accident scene
- The road conditions and weather at the time of the accident
- Eyewitness contact information (in some cases)
- The make, model, and vehicle identification numbers (VIN) of the involved vehicles
- Whether there were any injuries noted at the accident scene
The police assign an identification number to the accident report. A police report becomes essential evidence in a car accident claim. A Washington car accident victim can request a copy of their car accident report through the state’s online portal.
Reporting a Washington Car Accident to Your Insurance Company
In addition to reporting a car accident to the police, an involved driver must report it to their insurance company by the deadline stated in their policy. Under Washington’s fault-based car accident system, the driver responsible for the accident is liable for all accident-related damages. The insurance companies of the involved drivers investigate the accident and assign a percentage of fault to each driver. If both drivers share fault for the accident, they may still be able to recover a portion of their damages, but the insurance company deducts the driver’s percentage of fault from the amount they pay on the claim. For this reason, it’s advantageous to hire a car accident lawyer to protect your best interests by conducting an independent investigation and representing you throughout the claim process.