Should the police be called following a car wreck?

Do I really need to call the police after a car wreck?  In short, yes!

Recently, we have had several clients who were in a car wreck who did not call the police. Generally, this is at the request of the at fault driver. The usual scenario is that they are in a hurry, and ask instead to exchange insurance information and leave without having the police or state trooper do a report.  Another version is where the other driver forgot their drivers license, and they don’t want to get a ticket. This is not  a good idea for a number of reasons!  Always call the police following a motor vehicle collision.

Does the other driver in an accident have proper insurance?

While the other driver may produce an insurance card showing coverage, there may be a problem with that coverage.    Perhaps they didn’t make the payment on their insurance policy, resulting in a lapse in coverage. The driver could be excluded from coverage on an existing policy. The driver may not be listed on the policy, and if the driver is a regular user of that vehicle, this could nullify coverage. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have the required insurance, the investigating officer could issue a citation for failure to have coverage. You have the option of filing a Form SR-31 with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency which will result in the other driver’s license and registration being suspended until they pay your damages. This form is based on the case number found on the police report, so if you don’t have a police report prepared, this option is no longer available. 

Identifying the other driver in an accident

Another reason to always have the crash investigated is to document who you are dealing with. If the other driver or their insurer will not take care of the damages from the collision, how do you find them? The report, called an Alabama Uniform Traffic Crash Report, will contain a lot of information which will allow the other driver to be located, and if necessary, made to stand trial for the damages they caused.

Video of accident scene

Many police officers now wear body cameras which record what takes place at the scene of the wreck. Their patrol cars may also have cameras. The video  from these cameras can be obtained by subpoena and used in the trial of the case. The body cameras also record what is said during the investigation of the wreck. If the authorities are not called following a wreck, you don’t have access to this data. Frequently, we have seen a driver admit fault at the scene, then when the wreck is reported to their insurer, they change their tune and attempt to blame you. Footage from the cameras can prove what actually took place. 

Contact an experienced Dothan car accident attorney

If you are in a car wreck, call the police, and then give Alabama car accident attorneys at Carey & Hamner a call at 334-673-1800, or toll free at 1-866-883-1800.  You may reach us through the chat feature on our website, or by email, [email protected] for Terry M. Carey, or [email protected] for Steven R. Hamner. We will be happy to meet with you to discuss your options at no charge and with no obligation. Protect yourself following a collision, have the crash documented!