Most insurance claims do not need a police report, especially if there’s only minor damage. Minor dust-ups may not warrant having a police officer respond to the scene. For example:
- Nobody gets hurt
- The damage is minor
- Those involved have a valid license and insurance
- All parties are cooperative
However, if the accidents include a collision with another car or involve casualties, it is best to file a police report for your safety against any unexpected third-party claims.
What’s considered a minor car accident?
A minor accident causes less damage and injuries than a major car accident. For example, a fender bender or a rear-end accident at a low speed are both typically considered minor accidents.
It may be tempting to make a claim when your car suffers a minor accident. However please note that the small bend and dent repair might cost you a lot more when you pay your insurance in full the following year.
In addition, you may also risk affecting your accumulated No Claim Discount that supposedly let you enjoy a substantial discount on your next car’s premium.
What do you need to file a police report?
A police accident report will document the damage and personal injury incurred by an auto accident. It includes information that could help you in an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Police accident reports usually include necessary information for a claim:
- Suggestion of at-fault or responsible party and why
- Location of accident
- Time and date
- Description of road
- Description of vehicles and drivers
This can help prove who is at fault for the incident—you, the other party, the weather, or another factor.
The police report also makes the insurance claims process easier. This is because the information you need for the insurance paperwork is already consolidated in one place.
Can you file insurance claim without police report?
You can file an insurance claim without a police accident report. But it might be harder to prove fault or damage. The process may also take longer than if a police report had been filed.
A police report is essential when there is extensive damage to the property, injuries, or if a crime has taken place. A police report is also a necessary piece of evidence in case there is a lawsuit with another party.
Your insurer will have to take your word, and they might not be willing to pay out the full amount you’re owed. A police report helps prove back up your claims, especially if you are stating that you weren’t at fault for the accident. It also would speed up the process of the claim.
The documentation ensures that you have proof of your word. You may not always agree with the police report, so additional documentation can help prove your case.
The insurance adjuster will review your case based on the police report and determine how much money you’ll receive from the insurance company.
Insurance claim: when you should or should not lodge a police report
Collision with another car
Do not forget to lodge a police report when you’re in an accident with another car. You will never know what may happen next.
In some cases, both parties may not sustain any injury after an accident. Therefore, you sought to settle it privately without involving the police. However, one of you (you or the other party) may wake up with an injury.
Having no police report in place can be bad. There is no documentation to back up either side. It becomes your word against the other drivers, which can create a costly lawsuit that doesn’t always work out in your favour.
Theft or vandalism
Other than that, please ensure to lodge a police report if your car was stolen, vandalized, or broken into.
This is a type of case that needs to be proven with your insurance company. The absence of a police report may hinder your attempt to claim. Your insurance company might say that there’s not enough proof that you had those items in the car or that the automobile was stolen by a third party.
A police report can help prove your word and help retrieve your valuables.
Insurance claim: Make police report if necessary to facilitate claim process
It’s important to report an accident with your insurance company as soon as possible following the incident.
However, it is best to refer to your insurer for advice when in doubt.
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