Legally, you only need to file a police report after a car accident in California when the accident resulted in injuries or caused property damage exceeding $1,000. These reports must be made within 24 hours to the local authorities or the California Highway Patrol.
That said, it’s often in your best interests to file a police report anytime an accident involves another person or vehicle, since the report could provide invaluable evidence to support your claims and protect you from any disagreements that might arise. A police report will provide critical evidence in determining liability.
When You Need to File a Police Report in California
California law requires motorists to file a police report with the authorities if the crash results in:
- Injuries
- Fatalities
- Property damage over $1,000
If any involved party leaves the scene of an accident that has any of the above elements, then they are committing a crime. This crime, called a hit and run, might be levied as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the severity of the impact of the crime. If the other party is significantly injured or passes away, then it’s likely the crime will be charged as a felony.
As a misdemeanor, a hit and run can lead to jail time of up to six months and fines of up to $1,000. As a felony, the crime could result in up to four years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
Why Filing a Police Report is in Your Best Interests
After you get into any type of motor vehicle accident involving another person in California, it might make the most sense to go ahead and file a police report. This holds true even if you believe you could be responsible for the crash and even if you aren’t sure if anyone is injured. The reason for this is that filing a police report often protects your interests.
A California car accident police report is an official document that provides a neutral, detailed report about what happened, who was involved, what was damaged, and any initial inferences made by the responding authorities.
This information can be extremely helpful and protect your rights, especially if the accident wasn’t your fault. For one, the report will list the parties involved and their contact information. This prevents the other party from claiming they were never involved in the crash. The report provides an official way to establish the facts.
For another, the report will outline any visible, apparent damage resulting from the collision. This prevents the other party from claiming that you’re exaggerating the extent of the damage you experienced in the accident. The evidence outlined in the report can be used if you later file an insurance claim. If the other party tries to dispute any of the facts established in the police report, then you can simply lean on the authoritative document as proof.
Another way that a police report can protect you is if you later need to determine who caused the crash. While the police report doesn’t determine liability, it will document facts, observations, eyewitness accounts, and any initial evidence that might suggest fault that’s discovered at the scene. Using these established facts, it’s much easier to lay out evidence of who should be financially and legally liable for the accident.
How to Get an Official Police Report
To file an official police report, simply contact the authorities immediately after the accident. They’ll come out to the scene of the crash and create the official report. You can later request a copy by contacting the police department that responded to your crash. In some jurisdictions in California, you can request a copy of the report online.
