Car accidents do happen, unfortunately, and the hope is always that nobody will be seriously injured and that damage won’t be too severe. Many people don’t realize what happens if they don’t report a car crash. This is not something you want hanging over you head after an accident. We have the answer for you.
Once you have established safety for all involved, it is important to immediately get to work exchanging information, assessing the damage and reporting the incident. We’ve collected the facts to show why accident reporting is so important for drivers.
Know when you are required to report an accident to police
There are guidelines that can help you avoid reporting every accident. If, however, you’re in an accident that does have to be reported, then you must file a report at a collision reporting centre within 24 hours of the collision. These are the situations in which you must report an accident.
- The vehicles sustained combined damage exceeding $2,000CAD.
- Participation was by government vehicles.
- Other than the cars, property was also damaged.
- The pedestrian was also involved.
- Someone was hurt.
- A criminal offense was committed.
- Uninsured was one of the drivers.
Failure to report an accident can have serious consequences
Failure to report an accident can lead to serious consequences, including possible criminal charges for leaving the scene. This could lead to a driver being charged with a fine up to $2,000 and possibly a two-year suspension of their license.
It’s also a good idea just in case, to report the accident. You might not be able to sue for damages or injuries that occur in the weeks or months after the accident. Many people don’t know what happens to a car accident if it isn’t reported. The consequences can be very serious. Report an accident immediately if you are involved.
Reporting car damage to your insurer is also a good idea for several reasons.
- Many insurers require you to report all accidents and collisions.
- After the fact, you might find damages to your car.
- You might experience injuries that don’t show symptoms for days or weeks later, like a sore neck after a car accident.
What happens if you fail to report a car accident?
Insurance companies have different accident reporting rules than the police. There is a good chance that your policy requires you to report any accident that happens. It doesn’t matter how minor an accident, damage or injury is, you should notify your insurance company immediately after it occurs. This will be of benefit to you.
For one thing, if your vehicle insurance provider finds out about the accident from somebody else, then the car accident report could raise your rates they could increase your rates, or your policy could be cancelled altogether. You might find out that your injuries or damage are more severe than you think, which could mean you won’t be eligible for medical coverage or repairs.
If you don’t want your accident reported to the police or to your insurance company, it is essential. It is not a good idea to be in a situation where you are unable to pay for medical bills or repair costs.
You might face higher insurance premiums and/or policy cancellation. It is important to follow the proper protocol after an accident. This includes reporting it immediately to your insurer and police.
What if I’m not making any claim on my policy, do I still need to report a road crash to my motor insurances?
If your vehicle is covered on a “fully comprehensive” basis, and you want to file a claim against your insurers for vehicle damage, then the accident details must be reported.
However, there are many situations where reporting an accident is not necessary. Your vehicle may have been damaged in an accident not your fault. The other driver’s insurer will take care of the repairs. You may have been in an accident that did not cause any damage to your vehicle. You can’t make a claim against your policy in these circumstances. However, it is still important to notify your insurance company about the accident.
This question can be answered in a few words: “Yes.” Failure to report an accident is serious. Even if you don’t intend to file any claims on your policy, it can have serious consequences.
The contract between the policyholder and the insurer is motor insurance. Each party must comply with all terms and conditions. Most policies require that any policyholder who is involved in an accident must report it to their insurance company.
What happens if I don’t report an accident to my insurance?
Your insurers could declare your policy null if you fail to report an accident. This could lead to you not being covered for vehicle damage in the case of an accident later.
One example is when a friend was in an accident with another vehicle. Both vehicles were checked by the drivers and they both agreed there had been no damage. Each driver was satisfied that there had been no damage and continued on their respective ways. My friend did not report the accident to her insurances. In fact, due to the minor nature of her incident, it was not even an option. Insurers renewed her motor policy. A few months later, she was in an even more serious accident that caused damage to her car and which she wanted to claim on her policy.
She reported the accident and was then asked by her insurance company if she had been in any other accidents. My friend answered this question by telling the insurers about the minor bump she was involved in a few months prior. Imagine her shock when her insurers informed her that her policy was null from the beginning because she failed to disclose the accident. She was therefore not covered for the car damage.
The moral of this story? The moral of the story? You can inform your insurance company about an accident you have been in ‘For notification purposes only’.
You might be tempted to not report acidents to your insurance company because it could affect your no-claims premium or bonus. However, insurers share information which means that even though you haven’t reported an accident, they may discover it. This can lead to issues relating to nondisclosure later.