Handling insurance claims can be particularly difficult in the aftermath of a car accident. A lot of drivers often wonder if they can file a car insurance claim without a police report.
In most cases, a police report helps to expedite the claim process, making it easier and faster for the policyholder to receive the compensation they are entitled to.
However, you can still file a claim for a covered incident even without a police report. The only upside of attaching a police report to your claim is that it proves the validity of the accident.
Do I Need A Police Report For Minor Accidents?
No, you don’t necessarily need a police report if you get into an accident that does not incur serious damage. For instance, if your car hits your garage door, you don’t need to file a police report before submitting a claim with your insurance company. If there was no injured person or property damage in the event of the accident, reporting it to the police may be too extra.
Can You File a Car Insurance Claim Without a Police Report?
Of course, you can! Regardless of whether you have a police report or not, you can still file a car insurance claim. The only difference a police report makes to your claim is that it enables you to get compensation faster. Even without it you can still get the coverage you deserve if it is a covered claim. While some insurance companies may mandate attaching a police report to a car insurance claim, it is not the case for some insurers.
What Happens If I Don’t Report a Car Accident?
Whether you are responsible for the cause of the accident or not, it is important to report the incident to the police. In a case where you are deemed responsible for the cause of an accident, you may be reluctant to report it to the police, but it is wise to reach out to them in order to avoid further complications later on.
If you don’t report a car accident that you are at fault for, it can incur severe consequences. Not reporting the incident to the police will make it more difficult for your insurance provider to handle any claim relating to it because of the need for an official record.
In addition, if the other party chooses to file a claim or lawsuit against you, your lack of documents could undermine your defense or make it more difficult to support your side of the story. Furthermore, you can be subject to fines or pints on your driving record if you fail to report the accident to the police.
That being said, it is important to report to the police and disclose honest and vital information about this accident. This would help to safeguard your legal and financial interests, particularly if you are at fault.
How to File a Car Insurance Claim without a Police Report
Generally, a police report is significant when it comes to filing a claim for a car accident. This is because it is an official document that gives a thorough description of how the accident happened and the extent of damage that was done.
A police report makes your insurance claim believable and easy to process. Notwithstanding, you can still file a claim without it. In a case where you don’t have a police report, the following are some of the important details you should document:
- Date and time of the accident.
- The location where the accident occurred.
- Photos and videos of the scene.
- Affected party, ensure you have their contact information and driver license number.
- Insurance information of parties involved in the accident.
- Details of vehicles affected by the accident.
- Details relating to the extent of damage caused.
Most importantly, you should get the name and contact information of people that witnessed the accident. Some of them may be willing to attest to the credibility of your claim to your insurance provider.
Once you have this information at your fingertips, you can proceed with filing your claim even if you don’t have a police report. If you are involved in an accident, make sure you reach out to your insurance company immediately.
Bottom Line
Although it is possible to file a car insurance claim even without a police report, doing so may present difficulties and complexity during the claim process. However, you can still handle your claim efficiently by acting swiftly after the accident, through taking pictures and videos of the scene, as well as communicating with your insurance provider immediately.
In the end, having substantial knowledge about the standards of your insurance company and what to do in the event of an accident will enable you to handle the fallout from an accident more skillfully, even without having a police report.
