How to File a Police Report after an Oklahoma City Car Crash

After being involved in a car accident, you must make several decisions. Tackling these steps can be difficult to do when your emotions are running high and your adrenaline is rushing. One of the most important tasks you must do is to alert the authorities about the crash and file a police report.

If you forget to do this or simply decide to skip this step, it can be extremely difficult to prove to the insurance company you were involved in a car accident that resulted in your injuries and other losses.

Are you required to file a police report in Oklahoma?

According to Oklahoma Code §47-10-108, all car accidents that occur on public roadways and result in bodily injuries, death, or property damage of more than $300 must be reported to law enforcement or the Department of Public Safety. Therefore, since it is difficult to know the extent or severity of the damage or injuries you have immediately after the accident, you should report every accident you are involved in. If you believe that you simply have a few scratches or bruises and later find out that you have a traumatic brain injury that has caused you to incur significant medical costs, you will wish that you filed a police report.

Why is it important to file a police report?

There are many reasons why it is important to file a police report, such as:

• You may be unable to file an accident claim if you did not report the accident and have no police report showing that you were actually involved in an accident.
• Police reports may help attorneys and insurance companies determine who is at fault.
• Police reports ensure that you have the information needed from the other drivers or parties involved.
• After you file a police report, law enforcement will immediately begin investigating your accident to determine what happened, how it happened, why it happened, and whether any mistakes were made. Therefore, if you do not file a police report, the police will not investigate.

How to file a police report after an Oklahoma City car crash

Here are four simple steps you must follow to successfully file a police report for your Oklahoma City car crash:

1. Dial 9-1-1 right after the accident: Immediately after the accident, you should dial 9-1-1 and inform the dispatcher about your crash. They will ask you questions to understand who you are, where your accident happened, where to send the officers, and who else was involved. You may need to stay on the phone until officers arrive.
2. Wait for the officer to arrive: Regardless of how minor your accident is, you must stop and wait for the officer at the scene. It doesn’t matter where you need to be; you cannot leave the scene. If you leave, it will look like you fled, which could result in you being charged with a hit-and-run violation. Therefore, you should move your vehicle out of the way and wait patiently for the officer to arrive.
3. Answer questions and give them information about the accident: When the officer arrives, they will start investigating, looking at the vehicles and roadway, and writing down information. They will ask you various questions, such as where you were going, what happened, if you were hurt, if you have any passengers, if they were hurt, if you were driving at the speed limit, if you made any mistakes, and more. You must be honest with the officer, but you also want to make sure that you do not say anything that could look like you are at fault. For example, if you say, “I should have been paying better attention,” this could imply that you were distracted while driving. Therefore, even if you think that you may be partially at fault for the crash, you should never mention this to the officer.
4. Ask for the officer’s contact information: Before leaving the accident scene, you should ask the officer for their name, phone number, and police station address. You may need this information to call and make sure that the accident was reported and to obtain a copy for your records. You can also call the officer if you think of any additional facts or details regarding your accident.

What if the police officers did not show up, or I forgot to file a police report?

There might be cases where the police officers did not show up, or you forgot to file a police report immediately after the accident. In such cases, you can call or visit your local police department to inform them about the accident and file a report. Although it is best if you file a police report within the first week, Oklahoma gives you up to six months to make this report. However, the longer that you put it off, the longer it will take to file an insurance claim and pursue compensation for your damages. By waiting so long, the insurance company could also begin questioning the validity of your accident and injuries.

If you or a family member have recently been injured in a car accident, please do not hesitate to reach out to an Oklahoma City car accident attorney from Cunningham & Mears as soon as possible. We can help you navigate the difficult and complex legal system and obtain the financial recovery that you need to cover your medical bills and other losses. Insurance companies are known to take advantage of those who are severely injured and in the middle of a difficult recovery process, but we can help protect your rights. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free case review at our Oklahoma City office today. We look forward to meeting and speaking with you about your claim.