Being a driver comes with its set of responsibilities. When driving, you have to be prepared for the unexpected such as accidents. And if you are a part of a collision, it is important that you report the incident to your insurance company.
And if the damage is severe, you may have to report it to the police as well. However, if you don’t report the incidents, it can lead to serious consequences.
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When You Have to Report The Car Accident To The Police?
You don’t need to report every type of accident to the authorities. For instance, a small hit in a parking lot doesn’t need police. There are rules in each province that will guide you on when to call the police after a road accident.
Below are some examples where you need to call 911 immediately:
- The accident involved government vehicles
- Someone is injured
- A driver was uninsured
- There was a criminal offence involved, like driving under the influence
If there is a minor accident, you don’t have to call emergency services. But if the damage is major, you need to report the accident to the police or local collision reporting center based on the province. For instance, in Ontario, you need to file a collision report within 24 hours post the accident at the nearest center.
Furthermore, you should exchange the following information with other drivers:
- Insurance information
- Driver’s license
- Contact information from the eyewitnesses
What Happens If You Don’t Report A Collision?
Have you ever wondered what happens if you don’t report a car accident? There are serious repercussions if you fail to report a car accident like:
- Demerit points
- Fines
- A charge for leaving an accident scene
- Suspension of license up to two years
Canada’s criminal code includes failure to stop after an accident. It implies that if you don’t report an accident, you may have a criminal record. If you are not sure about what to do, it is better to call the police; irrespective of the size of the accident.
How Much Time Do You Have Before You Need to Report A Car Accident?
Being a part of an accident can be stressful, and you may be tempted to delay or overlook the accident. But, it is imperative to report an accident as soon as possible.
There are certain time limits on how long you can wait prior to reporting an accident to the local collision centre. The time limit tends to vary based on where you live. However, generally, you need to report an accident to the police within 24 hours. You will need to know about Run a VIN check online.
When Do you Have to Report a Car Collision To The Insurance Company?
After being involved in an accident, you should inform your insurance company as quickly as possible. Ensure that you and everyone involved are safe and report the incident to the collision centre or police. And even if you don’t want to file a claim, you should still inform the insurer. The company will guide you through the entire process. And notifying a car collision to insurance company provides various benefits:
- The insurer can help in arranging repairs and alternative transportation.
- Insurance companies and brokers are experts in dealing with accidents. So they will help you deal with an overwhelming situation.
- You may identify injuries or damages days or weeks post the accident. If your insurance providers are aware of the accident, they will be able to help you with these issues.
How to Report A Car Accident To Your Insurance Company?
It’s never easy to deal with the aftermath of a car accident. The best way to ensure you are recieve all of the help and support you need is by reporting it to your insurance company as soon as possible. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to do just that!
1. Call Your Insurance Company
The first thing you need to do is call your insurance company and let them know about the accident. If you don’t have an official claim number, ask for one when you make the phone call so that it can be recorded in their system.
2. Get Info From Other Drivers Involved
Make sure to get all the necessary information from the people involved in the accident with you. You will want to obtain critical pieces of information, like their name, phone number, and the insurance company so that they can be contacted later on to verify everything you say about them is correct.
3. Take Pictures Of Your Car And Injuries If Applicable
If you have any damage done to your vehicle or if anyone was injured, be sure to take some pictures of the scene before anything is moved or cleaned up.
4. Gather Witness Information If Applicable
If any other drivers witnessed what happened, get their contact information so that you can ask them about it later on when filing your claim.
5. Get Medical Attention For Yourself And Others
If you or anyone else involved needs medical attention, go to the hospital. Try not to move any vehicles until police have arrived so that it is clear how everything happened.
6. File Your Claim
You can file a claim with your insurance company once everyone is safe and sound at home again. After all of this has been taken care of, contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim. They will need all the information from you that has been collected during this process, as well as any pictures or receipts for damages done and medical bills accrued.
So, What Happens If You Don’t Report A Car Accident Ontario?
If you are driving in Canada, accidents happen.
It is important to stay calm and be mindful of your actions so that everyone involved can have a smooth process with their car insurance company. It means not moving vehicles too quickly and trying to stay as calm as possible. This is a time when it will be important for you to have the right type of insurance, so make sure that you are adequately covered before an incident like this happens.
And, it is important that you report the incident to the police and insurance company; if you don’t know how to move forward with the situation.
