FAQ: Do I Have to Report My Accident to the Authorities?

You’ve been involved in a serious accident. Now what? You may already know that you have to report the accident to your insurance company, but what about the authorities? Do you have to let the police know that you’ve been involved in a crash?

The short answer is, it depends.

For most accidents, you do have to report the auto accident to authorities. This is because most accidents meet the criteria which typically involves one or more parties suffering an injury or property damage in excess of a certain amount occurring.

For you as someone who has sustained an injury because of someone else’s negligence, it’s not just about legalities; reporting the accident to the authorities can help you in a number of ways when filing a claim.

Getting the Evidence You Need

Reporting the accident to the authorities can help you with several pieces of information that you can use as evidence when filing a claim or a potential lawsuit.

First, the police report will detail the statements made by witnesses who are in the area and may have seen the accident occur. These can be used when filing a claim to help you pursue compensation and have people back your claim.

Second, the authorities can detail the position of the vehicles, any potential signs of negligence (such as tire marks or other signs of speeding), and where damage occurred on the vehicles. These can all be used to help build a reconstruction of the accident.

Finally, the accident report can also detail whether medical was called to the scene to treat you for an injury you may have sustained.

At the end of the day, our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at The Beasley Firm can use these bits of information on your behalf, pursuing the compensation you need and deserve. Trust that we’re able to help you every step of the way because we care.

Call our firm today at and discuss your rights with our team.