How Long Do You Have To Report an Accident? (2026)

Are You Required To Report a Car Accident?

It can be tempting to not report a car accident to anyone. There’s always the possibility that an accident report could cause your insurance premiums to rise, and you may be hoping that the out of pocket cost to fix your vehicle will be low.

In many cases, though, you are obligated to report the car accident whether you want to or not. As a general rule, you should expect to report your car accident if any of the following has occurred:

• Someone has been injured
• Someone has died
• The accident has caused significant property damage

It’s not a bad idea to get acquainted with your state’s accident reporting threshold. These are some examples:

Drivers may be required to report a car accident to their insurance or to the police. Even if your accident doesn’t meet these criteria, it’s still wise to document the incident thoroughly, possibly involve police, and inform your insurance company. Let’s look at when you have to make one of these reports and how long you have to get it done.

How Long Do You Have to Report an Accident to Your Insurance Company?

The requirement to report an accident to your car insurance company is laid out in your policy. Even after a minor car accident, you likely need to notify your insurance soon after the accident occurs.

Most insurance policies include a requirement that you report all accidents and cooperate in the insurance company’s investigation. The timeframe for reporting may be as soon as is reasonable, or it could be as short as 24 hours. Failing to report promptly could lead to cancellation of your policy or denial of your claim.

The state where your accident occurred may also impact how long you have to notify your insurance carrier and start a claim. New York requires you to initiate a claim within 30 days of the accident. Michigan is less strict, but still requires claims to be filed within one year. Your claim will likely be denied if you fail to start the process before legal deadlines pass.

How Long Do You Have to Report a Car Accident to the Police?

In addition to reporting the accident to your insurance, you may be required to file a report with the police. Each state sets its own laws for when a report is required. All states require a report if the accident caused a death or an injury.

Many states also require a report if there is property damage valued over a threshold amount. The property damage amount that triggers a report requirement varies, but is often $500 or $1,000. Some states set their threshold very low. For example, Tennessee requires a report if property damage exceeds only $50. Colorado requires a report if there is any property damage.

If you are required to report a car accident to the police, the timeline for doing so can be short. Many states require a report immediately after an accident. Only a handful of states allow more than 10 days to file a required report.

You can report a car accident to police at the scene by calling 9-1-1. In the case of minor accidents where no one has been injured, it’s possible that police will not come to the scene. In this situation, you should document the following yourself:

• The accident location
• The time and date of the crash
• Damage to vehicles or personal property
• Weather and any other visibility factors at the time of the accident
• Contact and insurance details from all drivers
• Contact details for any witnesses

Failing to report an accident within the required timeframe can have significant consequences—even in situations where you unknowingly hit a parked car - including:

• Insurance Denial: Your insurer may deny your claim if you don’t report the accident promptly.
• Legal Penalties: In some states, not filing a required police report could result in fines or even criminal charges.

A car accident lawyer can help you gather these details after the fact. They can also help identify other useful details for proving fault in a car accident not your fault. Fill out the form on this page to get help today.

What if You Report an Accident and the Police Don’t Come?

After a minor car accident, many people aren’t sure whether they should report. In many cases, they err on the side of caution, but in some areas, the police will not respond to calls for minor accidents.

If you need to file an insurance claim, not having a police report can make things more difficult. Taking the following steps can increase your chances of successfully recovering compensation:

Thoroughly Document the Scene

Getting an insurance claim approved with no police report can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. If you don't have a police report, it becomes much more important to document the scene yourself. Take photographs of the following:

• The accident scene as a whole
• Damage to each vehicle
• Each involved vehicle’s license plate and VIN
• Skid marks, detached bumpers or any other relevant items
• Your injuries

Don’t forget to exchange driver’s license and insurance information with all other involved drivers. Look for witnesses and take down their contact information. In the absence of a police report, testimony from uninvolved witnesses can make a difference.

You should also make a note of the weather conditions. Police reports typically document the state of the road and the weather at the time of the crash, and this information can add important context to an insurance claim.

File Your Own Accident Report

If you called the police and they didn’t come to the scene of the accident, you should file your own accident report as soon as reasonably possible. The steps to do so depend on your jurisdiction. In some areas, you may file accident reports online through the police department’s website.

If you can’t file a report online, call or visit your local police station to ask how to do so. This process might seem tedious, but it will likely make it easier to get your insurance claim approved.

Should I File a Claim With My Insurance or Theirs?

If you are located in a no-fault insurance state, you should file the insurance claim with your own insurance company, regardless of who was at fault.

However, if you’re in an at-fault state, determining where to file can be more complex. If the accident was clearly caused by the other driver (and that driver has insurance), you should typically file a claim with their insurance.

You should still report your accident to your insurance company, even if you weren’t at fault. Most policies require you to report crashes regardless of fault.

Will Reporting the Accident Affect My Insurance Rates?

While you can generally expect your insurance premiums to increase if you were at fault for the accident, your rates likely won’t increase if the other driver caused the crash.

It’s important to note that while a rate increase isn’t ideal, the consequences will be even greater if you fail to report an accident where you were at fault.

If this happens, your insurance may not cover any claims stemming from the accident you didn’t report. That can leave you financially liable for any car accident settlement the other driver tries to recover. In many cases, insurers also drop customers who fail to report accidents.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?

If you’re considering a lawsuit after a car accident, being aware of time limits is even more important. Each state has a statute of limitations - a law that sets the deadline for filing a lawsuit. The statute of limitations differs for different types of claims.

Car accidents often lead to personal injury lawsuits, which commonly have a two year statute of limitations. Some states allow more time to pass before you have to file, while others require quicker action.

How a Lawyer Can Help After a Car Accident

Sometimes legal action is necessary to protect yourself. If your insurance company refuses to compensate you fairly, or another driver claims you were at fault for the accident, a lawyer can help assert your rights. It’s also important to understand that even if you have insurance, you can still be sued - especially if damages exceed your coverage limits or a dispute arises over fault.

It is often worthwhile to get an attorney after a car accident. Studies have found that personal injury cases settle for up to 3.5x more when a lawyer is involved. Lawyers know how to identify and present evidence for maximum effect. They also understand insurance and legal processes, which helps ensure your case doesn’t suffer from mistakes. Fill out the form on this page for a free evaluation of your case.