Should You Call the Police for a Fender Bender in Pennsylvania?

It is beneficial to call the police for a fender bender in Pennsylvania. This brings police officers to the scene to learn about the accident. These officers will gather information to use in their police report, which can serve as evidence in your case against a liable driver. 

Within days of your fender bender, contact a car accident lawyer serving Philadelphia. Your attorney can evaluate your accident and determine who is at fault. If the other driver is liable, your lawyer can help you pursue maximum damages from them. 

When Should You Call the Police for a Fender Bender in Pennsylvania?

Call the police in the moments after your accident. Minutes later, police officers will arrive at the scene. If you dial 911, medical personnel will also come to provide medical care to you and anyone else who may be injured. 

Speak to the police about your fender bender, and do not take responsibility for it. If you are wondering whether you should admit fault in your car accident, consider what can happen if you do. By accepting some or full responsibility, a liable driver could claim you are at fault, which can hurt your chances of getting damages from them. 

Call a lawyer to help you after your car accident. Do so as soon as you can following the incident. Otherwise, if you wait too long, you could miss your opportunity to get damages to cover your accident-related losses. 

What Will Happen If You Call Police Officers for a Fender Bender in Pennsylvania?

Police officers will document the accident scene. As part of their efforts, they will collect information from you and other parties involved in your fender bender. They will note the sequences of events that led to your accident and any violations that took place. 

In addition, the police will examine and review evidence objectively, which will help them determine who may be liable. Police officers will give you a crash receipt. This includes your case report number and other relevant accident information.

Get a copy of your police report in the days following your fender bender. Do not expect a police report to go to your insurance company automatically. Alternatively, you can request a vehicle crash report from the Pennsylvania State Police within 15 days of your accident, and this documentation could help you strengthen your case against an at-fault motorist.

What Will Happen If You Choose Not to Contact the Police for a Fender Bender?

In Pennsylvania, you are legally required to report an auto accident to the police if there are injuries, deaths, or property damage in excess of $1,000. If you choose not to do so, you can be penalized. You could be charged with a misdemeanor, receive fines, or have your driver’s license suspended. 

Comparatively, you could get into a fender bender in which the other driver is at fault, choose not to report the incident, and leave the scene. Shortly after, the other motorist claims you left the scene of the accident and says you are responsible for the accident. This can lead to civil and criminal penalties. 

A personal injury lawyer can answer any questions you have about how long you have to file a police report after a car accident. Generally, you have up to five days from the date of your accident to notify the police about it. Ultimately, it pays to err on the side of caution by calling the police and having officers travel to the scene to assist you and others involved. 

What Should You Say When You Call the Police to Report a Fender Bender?

Take a deep breath and try to remain calm, cool, and collected as you tell the police about your car accident. Resist the urge to assign blame even if you believe the other motorist is at fault. Provide police officers with details about the incident, including your location, the time it happened, and if anyone is injured. 

As you discuss your accident, stick to the facts. Do not exaggerate the details of your accident or say anything that implies you may be in some way at fault. The information you share can be included in a police report, and if it shows you are not liable, it could help you secure damages from a liable motorist. 

Use a police report in your auto insurance claim. Pennsylvania operates as a “no–fault” state for car insurance, which means you could recover compensation for your accident-related losses from your insurer, regardless of who is liable for the incident. A personal injury attorney can provide an insurance overview and, if warranted, help you get damages via a lawsuit. 

Our Car Accident Lawyers Fight for Justice

A fender bender may seem minor, but the ramifications of this crash can linger. If you choose not to call the police following a fender bender in Pennsylvania, you could be held responsible for the accident. Plus, you will have to cover all of your accident-related losses by yourself. 

Morelli Law Firm has more than four decades of combined legal experience on our team. We seek justice for our clients and help them get the damages they need and deserve. Schedule a consultation with our auto accident attorneys.