Filing a police report is no longer required to file an insurance claim for an accident in Colorado, but not having one does make the process a little more complex. If you have been involved in an accident and there is no accompanying police report, contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer for assistance with your case.

What Will Happen if My Case Has No Police Report?

You can still file a claim with your insurance provided if there is no accident report associated with the incident. As a policyholder, you still have a right to the coverage you pay for. But, without the report, it will be up to you and your lawyer to provide all of the evidence for the accident that the report usually would. While it is difficult to get a traffic ticket or criminal claim for an accident without a report, you can still file a lawsuit.

It’s also important to remember that, while you can still file an accident report online with the Department of Motor Vehicles in Colorado if you were involved in an accident where the police were not called, it is likely that the report will not be investigated by the authorities. Cases filed online are often kept for record purposes only.

Will a Police Report Affect My Insurance Rate?

Yes, a police report has the potential to affect your insurance rates. Police officers are trained to evaluate accidents and report on them. Because of this, insurance companies may find police-reported information more substantial than client-reported information. Because of this, it is important to clearly document all of the damages and injuries associated with your accident. This will help you and your legal team support your argument.

What if the Other Driver Flees the Accident?

No matter the severity of an accident, if the other driver flees the scene and you cannot collect their name or insurance information, you should always contact the police. A police report is vital in determining fault in an automobile accident, so if you cannot contact the driver that has fled, getting an official report from a trained police officer stating such will help you solidify your case.

When pursuing a case where there is no report, the question of why there isn’t a report will often come up – even for a minor accident or something where blame seems clear, like a rear-end collision. Keep this in mind when considering contacting the police for your accident.