In general, no. A police report is not required to make an insurance claim. However, reporting a collision to the police and obtaining a police report can strengthen a future injury claim.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, contact the car accident lawyers at Cousin Benny for a free consultation.
When Is It Necessary to Call the Police After an Auto Accident?
While minor collisions do not have to be reported to the police, Pennsylvania Law Title 75 specifies two instances in which the police must be contacted:
- The police must be contacted if a person dies or suffers an injury due to the collision.
- Additionally, the police must be contacted if the crash caused one of the vehicles to become disabled, i.e., the vehicle cannot move under its own power.
Claims Against a Municipality
A police report is beneficial, if not necessary, when a collision involves a local government vehicle, e.g., a police car. Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, a local government must receive written notice of a claim within six months of the accident. A police report may provide the local government actual or constructive notice of the claim.
Claims Against the Pennsylvania Financial Responsibility Assigned Claims Plan
It is also advisable to file and obtain a police report when making a claim against the Pennsylvania Financial Responsibility Assigned Claims Plan. This plan provides insurance when an uninsured victim was involved in an automobile collision, and there is no other means available for the victim to obtain insurance benefits. As this plan implicates the requirements of uninsured motor vehicles, filing and obtaining a police report satisfies the notice requirements §1702.
How to File a Police Report
There are several ways to report an automobile collision. You can contact the police by calling 911, or you can report the collision in person at a local police station. You can also fill out and mail a AA 60 form to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Cousin Benny Can Help
After you report the collision, Cousin Benny’s legal team will obtain an official copy of the police report for you.
Why Having a Police Report Can Strengthen Your Claim
Insurance companies often deny claims by claiming their drivers are not at fault or argue no collision occurred. A police report is an effective tool to defeat these arguments. This is because police reports contain essential information which can strengthen an innocent victim’s claim, such as:
- A preliminary investigation by the police, including a determination of fault
- A description of the collision, including the vehicle involved
- The names and contact information of potential witnesses
- The date, time, and location of the collision
- The names of the drivers of the vehicle
- Information regarding the vehicles’ owners
- Insurance information
Pursue Your Philadelphia Accident Case with Cousin Benny
You should contact the car accident attorneys at Cousin Benny if you were recently injured in a car accident. Our experienced injury attorneys know how to use police reports to build strong cases for our injured clients. Regardless of whether you’re from South Philadelphia or Northeast Philadelphia, we can help.
Contact us today to learn more about our services!
