Minor vehicle collisions happen every day. Often, drivers exchange insurance information but wonder whether it is necessary to call the police. Even if it seems that there is no significant damage to your car or injury to either driver, you should consider calling the cops. Not doing so can hurt you if, later on, you discover you are injured or the accident caused more damage than you thought. In some situations, it can also be illegal not to call the police.
If you have been in a fender bender that turned into something more severe and you or the other driver did not call cops to the scene, our Chicago personal injury attorney can advise you on how to handle the situation.
No Police Report Can Hurt Your Case
After a fender bender, it may appear at first impression that your car is fine. But what if your vehicle starts to have issues after a week or two? Perhaps you did not realize the frame had cracked, or something happened internally because you could not see any damage to the exterior of your car. How do you address this after the accident?
Minor problems can sometimes turn into major ones after the fact. If you later need to bring your car to a mechanic, you may not be able to file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company as there is no record of the accident. Insurance companies are very good at making arguments to deny claims. In this situation, there is no way to show that this was not a preexisting issue with your car. Without a police report or proof of the accident, you may have to pay out of pocket for these repairs.
Similar things can play out with your health. You may feel fine right after the fender bender. But, injuries can take time to develop, and in a few weeks, you may start to experience neck or back pain. Treating this injury may be expensive, especially if you have a high deductible or inadequate insurance. Getting the other driver’s insurance company to pay will be challenging without a police report because they will likely argue that this injury was preexisting, as in the previous example.
Illinois Law May Require You to File a Police Report
Illinois law requires that you file a police report if a vehicular accident caused a death, physical injury, or more than $1,500 of property damage when all drivers are insured. If any driver does not have insurance, you must file a report if there was more than $500 in property damage. If the police cannot or do not come to the scene of the accident, you must file a report within ten days.
Speak With a Chicago Attorney Right Away
If you’ve been involved in a fender bender and you’re not sure what you need to do, you should contact a lawyer for advice. The sooner you do so, the better able you are to protect your rights. Our firm knows how to handle claims for fender benders, deal with insurance companies, and protect your rights. Contact our office today for a free consultation about your case.