Fender Bender With No Police Report? What to Do Next
You got into a minor accident and did not call the police. Here is how to handle insurance, fault, and documentation after the fact.
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Not Having a Police Report Is OK
Police reports are not legally required for most minor accidents. Many states only require a police report when there are injuries, when damage exceeds a certain threshold (typically 1,000 to 2,500 dollars), or when a vehicle cannot be driven. For a typical parking lot ding or minor fender bender, insurance companies process claims without police reports routinely. The absence of a report does not prevent you from filing a claim.
Document Everything Now
If you did not document at the scene, do it now. Write down everything you remember while it is fresh: date, time, location, weather, what happened, speed, direction of travel, and what both drivers said. Take photos of your damage immediately. If you exchanged information with the other driver (name, phone, insurance, license plate), organize it. If you did not exchange information, check if any nearby businesses have security camera footage.
File With Your Insurance
Call your insurance company and report the accident. They will open a claim and assign an adjuster. Provide all the documentation you have: photos, the other driver information if you have it, and your written account. Your insurance company will contact the other driver insurance to determine fault. Without a police report, fault is determined through the drivers accounts, physical damage evidence, and any witnesses. Your insurance handles this process.
If the Other Driver Does Not Cooperate
If the other driver refuses to provide insurance information or denies the accident happened, you can still file a claim through your own insurance if you have collision coverage. You will pay your deductible, but your insurance will attempt to recover the cost from the other driver through subrogation. If you have the other driver license plate, your insurance can look up their information. You can also file a police report after the fact in most jurisdictions within 24 to 72 hours.
