Getting into a car accident, even a minor fender bender or parking lot collision, can disrupt your day and leave you wondering what happens next. While minor accidents may not involve serious damage, they still require attention, especially when it comes to filing insurance claims and determining liability.
In Miami, whether or not a police officer investigates a minor collision depends on specific circumstances. According to Florida law, accidents involving injuries, significant property damage, or a hit and run accident must be reported to law enforcement. Even for minor accidents, having a police report is crucial, as your auto insurance company will likely request it to process your claim.
The Florida Highway Patrol or local law enforcement may not respond to every minor accident in Florida, but it’s still a good idea to document the accident scene, exchange information with the other driver, and report the incident to the authorities. These steps can be vital if a personal injury claim or dispute arises later.
Even if the accident occurred at low speeds or caused minor damage, it’s important to follow the proper procedures to protect your rights and comply with Florida laws regarding car accidents. Contacting your insurance company promptly and providing all necessary details will help streamline the claims process.
In general, the police will only investigate an accident if there are injuries, if a hit and run occurred, or if there is significant damage to one or more of the vehicles involved. If the accident is minor and everyone involved has exchanged information and there is no need for further investigation, the police will likely not get involved.
If the police choose not to investigate your accident, there are plenty of options for you to gather information about the collision and support your claim.
What To Do If Police Do Not Investigate Your Miami Car Accident
In most cases, the police will not investigate a minor car accident in Miami. This is because these types of accidents are typically considered to be low-priority calls for police officers.
However, there are some circumstances in which the police may choose to investigate a minor car accident. For instance, if there is evidence of a hit and run, or if there is significant damage to one of the vehicles involved, the police may choose to investigate. Additionally, if either of the drivers involved appears to be intoxicated, the police will likely investigate further.
Even if the police don’t investigate, it’s still a good idea to exchange information with the other driver or drivers involved. You will need this information for your insurance company.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to take photos of the damage to both vehicles involved in the accident. These photos can be helpful when filing an insurance claim.
What Information Goes Into an Official Accident Report?
If the police do investigate your car accident, they will create an accident report. This report will contain important information about the accident, including the names and contact information of the drivers involved, the insurance information for both drivers, and a detailed description of what happened. Since this report is generated by an officer of the law, it tends to hold more weight than a victim’s self-reporting.
The accident report can be very helpful when filing an insurance claim. In many cases, the insurance company will request a copy of the accident report in order to process your claim. If there is no official report, though, there are still options.
Compiling Your Own Accident Report
However, you can compile your own “accident report” by gathering information such as the names and contact information of the other drivers involved, as well as insurance information and photos of the damage to both vehicles. In many cases, the police will even issue you a driver’s exchange form that lists all of this critical information.
While it’s not always required, it is always a good idea to file a police information report (which is different from the accident report discussed above) after an accident, even if the police don’t investigate. This is because a police report can be very helpful when filing an insurance claim.
This police report is different from an accident report that is compiled at the scene of the crash by an attending officer, but will add validity to your claims. Trying to file a claim with an insurance company without any form of official accident report will be more difficult and could result in a lower settlement offer, or even a denial of your claim.
Filing an Insurance Claim After a Minor Car Accident in Miami
Once you have all of the necessary information, you’ll need to file a claim with your own insurance company. In most cases, your insurance company will then contact the other driver’s insurance company in order to begin the claims process.
It’s important to note that you should never give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company without first speaking with your own insurance agent or attorney. These insurance companies are not on your side and will often use anything you say against you in order to minimize the amount of money they have to pay out on your claim. They will also attempt to use your lack of police involvement as further justification for reducing your settlement amount, but don’t be fooled.
What If I’m Contacted By the Other Driver’s Insurance Company After a Minor Accident?
If you are contacted by the other driver’s insurance company, you should politely decline to give a statement and instead refer them to your own insurance company. If you have already given a statement, be careful about what you say. These insurance adjusters are trained to get victims to say things that can be used against them later on. If you have an attorney handling your case, they will be able to provide a statement that avoids the common pitfalls insurance companies take advantage of when working with an inexperienced claimant.
Additionally, the other driver’s insurance company may attempt to lowball you with an early settlement offer. This is often done in an attempt to save the insurance company money, but it could also be used as a tactic to get you to say something that can be used against you later.
If you’re offered an early settlement by the other driver’s insurance company, you should politely decline and refer them to your own insurance company. Once again, if you have an attorney handling your case, they will be able to communicate with the insurance company on your behalf and negotiate a fair settlement that fully compensates you for your damages.
Contact Car Accident Attorney To Find Help With Your Case
If you’ve been involved in a minor car accident in Miami, it’s important to know your rights and understand the claims process. CarAccidentAttorney.com is a personal injury law firm directory. We can help connect you with an attorney for your case. If you’ve been injured in an accident, call us today at CarAccidentAttorney.com to get started.