Best Consumer Protection Lawyers in Bradenton, FL

Do You Need a Police Report After an Accident? No one expects to be in a car accident, but you’ll need to quickly make some critical decisions when it happens. One of the most important is whether to contact the police from the scene of the accident. Are you required to file a police report after an accident in Florida? And will your insurance company accept a claim if you don’t? Here’s a quick look at the answers to these questions and more. Are You Required to File a Police Report in Florida? In the state of Florida, you are legally required to report an accident if any of the following apply: Someone is injured or killed (driver, passenger, pedestrian, bystander, etc.) The accident was a hit-and-run An intoxicated driver caused the accident The accident resulted in property damage of over $500 (including damage to the vehicle) If the accident was minor and none of the above scenarios apply, it’s acceptable to trade insurance information with the other driver and forego calling the police. However, you may want to think twice before making this decision. Remember that once everyone leaves the accident scene, it will likely be too late to file a report. Later, if the other driver decides to sue you for medical issues or vehicle damage, you won’t have an official record of the facts surrounding the accident. It will be your word against theirs, and if they have a skilled attorney, you could end up being held liable even if it wasn’t your fault.