Auto Accident  Attorneys Helping clients across Mercer and Middlesex County NJ

I was in an automobile accident, and the police didn’t respond to the call. How do I file a police report?In 2017, there were over 270,000 car accidents in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Essex County led the count in reported car accidents with 29,635 in 2017, followed closely by Bergen County with 28,903 reported accidents and Middlesex Country with 27,137 reported.

Car accidents are major stressors to all parties involved, both physically and emotionally. The American Academy of Family Physicians lists such post-traumatic effects of traffic accidents as shock, anger, fear, anxiety, nightmares, and irritability.

After a car accident, one expects that the stressors will be over, and the order will ensue. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. More often than would be desired, the process of filing a police report can instigate additional stress, as authorities sometimes fail to arrive at the scene of the accident to complete the report, or they fail to even respond to the call.

Why did the authorities not arrive at the accident after I called it in?

Filing a police report is an imperative procedure when you have been in a car accident, no matter how minor or major the accident was. That said, even when one tries to file a report, there are instances in which police do not respond. Following are some of the main reasons authorities may not appear to the scene of the accident to complete a report upon its being called in:

  • Insufficient officers on duty or officers are responding to a more urgent incident
  • Minor accidents with little to no damage
  • Minor accidents with no injuries
  • Weather conditions prevent authorities from arriving

How do I ensure that a police report for the accident is filed in the absence of authorities?

How do I ensure that a police report for the accident is filed in the absence of authorities?

In the case that, upon calling to report an accident, authorities do not respond and arrive at the scene, there are some steps you can take to ensure that a police report is filed in their absence.

  • Call again the police dispatch, and request the procedure for filing a police report on your own.
  • Search your local police department’s online database to research the possibility of filing an online police report. The New Jersey Department of Transportation has a Self-Reporting Crash Form (SR-1) that can be used to report an accident that was not investigated by police
  • Physically go to the police station to file the report in person.

What do I need to ensure is included in a police report?

The National Safety Council reported in a recent study of all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., that crucial information is often left out of police reports that adversely impact efforts to save lives, as well as, perhaps, the outcomes of injury claims.

According to the study, New Jersey police reports lack information in the police reporting systems on drugs other than alcohol involved in the accidents, whether the accident was work-related, and advanced driver assistance programs involved.  As such, it is imperative that you include as much information you think would be informative to an insurance claim as possible.

Again, while a police report will not always be used, it is imperative to file one. Sometimes, because of the adrenaline and chaos of an accident, one will not feel or know they have sustained injuries. Later, upon recognizing that your body has sustained injuries and you file a personal injury claim with your insurance carrier, it will be essential to have a police report available, as it is the primary collection of evidence an insurance carrier and personal injury lawyer will use to seek compensation for injuries sustained in the accident.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney to ensure an upright outcome in your case

If you have been involved in a car accident in which the authorities did not come to the accident scene to complete a police report, file one yourself. Then contact Cohen & Riechelson to consult with an experienced member of our team regarding the next steps in your personal injury claim to ensure that you receive fair compensation for physical and emotional injuries sustained in the accident. We serve in Trenton office, Princeton, Lawrence, Hamilton, New Brunswick, and across Mercer County.

To connect with our firm today in a confidential and comprehensive assessment of your case call us at (609) 528-2596 or go online to schedule a free, no-risk consultation with a personal injury lawyer.