It is easy to make small mistakes in the aftermath of a car crash. Some people convince themselves that they don’t need to see a doctor for their injuries. Others make statements or apologies that could raise questions about whether they might be at fault for the collision.
However, those minor mistakes pale in comparison to one of the most common post-collision errors. If the other party involved in a wreck asks to handle the matter privately, people with property damage expenses or minor injuries might feel inclined to agree. They may not realize until far later that they have put themselves at a legal disadvantage.
Crash reporting is mandatory
Filing a police report may feel like a frustrating ordeal, but it is a requirement. The law mandates filing an official collision report after any crash that results in injury, death or at least $2,000 worth of property damage. The decision to bypass notifying local authorities could lead to a situation where the other driver later files a crash report and falsifies information. Agreeing to settle the matter privately also means that the people affected by the crash lack the formal record that is typically necessary when attempting to pursue compensation after a collision.
People may not follow through on their promises
A driver proposing a private settlement in a car crash scenario may have an ulterior motive. In some cases, they may have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and they may simply worry about losing their main source of income if an officer issues them a ticket. Other times, they may know that they have violated the law and want to avoid accountability. The driver may have a suspended license or a lapsed insurance policy. They may have committed a major traffic infraction that the other driver cannot prove without the intervention of police officers investigating the crash.
A driver at fault can make verbal promises to cover the costs of repairing a vehicle or the medical expenses incurred by the other party. However, without a crash report proving that the incident occurred, holding them to that promise could be all but impossible. Making a point of notifying local authorities about a recent motor vehicle collision helps to protect those affected by creating a formal record. Those who follow the right procedures after car crashes may have an easier time holding drivers at fault for collisions accountable.