If you’ve been involved in a minor fender bender that wasn’t your fault, you might wonder whether or not you should call the cops. Whether police respond to the accident or not should not dictate your response. Instead, focus on protecting your legal claim and rights by contacting law enforcement after any accident.
Here is what you need to know about the law and how to protect yourself after a motor vehicle accident.
Illinois Accident Reporting Requirements
Illinois requires drivers to report any car accident that they are involved in that causes any of the following:
- Bodily injury
- Death
- Property damage of $1,500 or more if all drivers are insured
- Property damage of $500 if a driver is uninsured
Those involved have ten days to report the accident to law enforcement.
In many situations, accident victims can file their own crash report, but the methods for doing so vary. If the crash involved only one vehicle on an Interstate or a U.S. or Illinois Route and no one was injured, the report can be filed online. For wrecks on a freeway, victims must file a Desk Report in person at specific local police departments.
Why You Should Still Call the Cops After a Fender Bender
If you are involved in a car accident that you consider minor, you might wonder whether it’s worth the time and frustration to call the police, especially if you don’t think you were seriously injured.
However, there are several good reasons why you should call 911 after an accident, including:
- You may have suffered more severe injuries than you realize because the adrenaline or shock of the accident could be masking symptoms.
- Emergency medical service providers can determine if you require additional medical treatment.
- You can document the accident in case the at-fault driver later tries to deny it.
- You can use the accident report to help with the insurance claim process.
- Reporting the accident can help law enforcement remove your vehicle and clean up the accident scene.
When legal claims are involved, it’s critical to get an objective report of the events leading up to the crash.
What Is Included in a Police Report?
If police respond to the accident scene, they may prepare an official report.
This report may include valuable details that can help with your car accident claim, such as:
- The names and contact information for the other driver, passengers, and witnesses
- Statements from the other driver and witnesses
- Insurance details for the other party
- Details about the exact time and location of the accident
- A record of all visible damage
- Assessments regarding how the accident may have occurred
- Whether the other driver was issued a citation
- A diagram of the accident scene
After the law enforcement officer takes notes and gathers information at the accident scene, they will return to the police station and prepare a report. It may take a few days for the report to be available for retrieval. Ask the law enforcement officer how to get a copy of the report when it is ready before they leave the accident scene.
Contact Our Wheaton Car Accident Lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation to Discuss Your Car Accident Case
If you were involved in a car accident, you should report the accident to local law enforcement in Wheaton, IL. Never admit fault for the accident; you don’t know for certain what caused it. Then, contact an experienced car accident attorney.
The legal team at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys can discuss your situation, explain your legal rights, and answer your questions during a free, no-obligation consultation. Call our Wheaton car accident lawyers today to schedule your free case review.
We proudly serve Cook County, Will County, Kendall County, and their surrounding areas:
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Chicago Office
10 S La Salle St STE 1230, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone:(312) 726-1616
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Chicago
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 41.8815493,-87.6327515
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Joliet Office
195 Springfield Ave, Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: (815) 726-1616
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Joliet
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 41.5254295,-88.1381011
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Rockford Office
318 N 1st St, Rockford, IL 61107
Phone:(815) 662-0330
Hours: Open 24/7
