Years ago, it was not uncommon for two drivers to decide not to call the cops after a fender bender car crash. They would simply exchange insurance information and agree to handle things between themselves. This was before the law became stricter about reporting traffic accidents.
It was also back when insurance companies would take their claimant’s story at face value. With so many ways of challenging a person’s events of what happened during a car crash, claims are denied more today than they were years ago. Not only this, but when someone’s in an auto accident in Douglasville, they don’t trust the other driver like they may have years ago.
Any Douglasville accident attorney would advise their client that they should never agree to not call the police. All that does is make it nearly impossible for you to pursue the other party for damages. It even makes it difficult, if not impossible, to have your insurance claim paid.
Here, we will explain why you should never agree to avoid calling the police after an auto accident in Douglasville. If you have questions about your own accident case, feel free to contact our office. We can always schedule your free, initial consultation over the phone, or through our website.
Georgia Law Requires That You Report Any Car Crash in Douglasville
Like every other state, Georgia law requires that you report your car crash in Douglasville. Technically, you are supposed to report any accident that leads to property damage of more than $500. In addition, the law requires you to report any motor vehicle accident that causes bodily injury.
In the moments after your car crash, you have no idea what kind of damage was inflicted on the vehicles. Nor do you know if anybody has been seriously injured. This is why it’s in your best interest to call 911 immediately after the collision. Let the cops come to the accident scene and do their job. Whatever their investigation uncovers, it is better than having no idea what really happened.
The Other Driver May Not Have a Valid Driver’s License
One of the reasons the other driver is insisting that you not call the police is because they don’t have a valid driver’s license. They know that, if the cops come, they will be arrested for driving without a license. If they’re driving on a suspended license, or have a warrant out, they could go to jail. Of course, they’re going to ask you not to call the cops.
They hope that you’ll agree to handle matters between the two of you. They’ll give you a fake name and bogus insurance information and pray you never find them. This means your Douglasville accident attorney will have no choice but to pursue a claim against your uninsured motorists’ fund. This severely restricts the amount of money you will receive for your car crash damages.
The Defendant May Have Been Driving Without Insurance
One other reason the defendant may ask you not to call the cops is because they don’t have insurance. They know that as soon as the police arrive at the scene, they’ll run their information. It will come back that their insurance policy is not valid.
Not only will they be arrested, but their license will probably be suspended. On top of that, they know your Douglasville accident attorney can file a lawsuit against them personally. That’s the last thing they want to see happen. The longer you wait to call 911, the more likely it is that the other driver will take off and leave the car crash scene.
For All You Know, the Defendant Could Be Driving a Stolen Car or SUV
In a worst case situation, the other driver in your auto accident in Douglasville could be driving a stolen vehicle. They may have just committed a crime for all you know. Not only do they want to avoid the police, but they have no intention of giving you accurate information.
You will once again be left with a situation where your Douglasville accident attorney has no option but to file a claim against your policy’s uninsured motorists’ clause. The other possibility is that the other driver could threaten or harm you if you insist on calling the cops. The sooner you make that call to 911, the sooner the police will be there to help you.
Your Douglasville Accident Attorney Will Need the Police Report
Our Douglasville accident attorneys understand what it’s like when the other driver puts a lot of pressure on you. They insist that there’s no reason to call the cops. They may even promise to take all responsibility for the car crash just to get you to agree not to call 911. The problem is that, unless someone has something to hide, there’s no reason they would insist on keeping the police out of it.
Worst case, the other driver may drive off if you insist on calling the cops. By then, you should have at least taken note of their license plate number. You don’t want to put your personal safety at risk by insisting you call the police. However, once you agree to this request, you will lose any chance you had of pursuing the other driver for damages.
We suggest that you contact our office as soon as possible after your auto accident in Douglasville. You can schedule a free, initial consultation with our office and take advantage of the chance to meet with an attorney.
Our Douglasville accident attorneys meet with new clients every day, some of which are in the same boat as you. We will do our best to get you compensation for your injuries. However, to do so, we will need a copy of the police report. By agreeing to not call the cops, you’ll be making your Douglasville accident attorney’s job a lot harder than it has to be.
