Chatham Police Department issued the following announcement on Oct. 31.
We often hear from people that they don't believe they should or need to report car accidents that are minor in nature to the police. In reality though, did you know that you should actually report any car accident you are involved in, no matter how minor? This does several very important things, such as:
1) Collects everyone’s contact information. This includes any drivers and witnesses involved in the accident.
2) Makes argumentative drivers cooperate. If someone gets angry at you and won’t calm down, the police will handle them.
3) Protects you from someone who claims to take all responsibility and fault on scene, but, changes their mind later on down the road.
4) Protects you from someone who claims to have car insurance, but, you find out later does not.
5) Protects you from someone who comes back a day or so later and says their whole car was totaled in the accident and they want a new one, when you know that all they really had was a few little scratches on their bumper.
6) Allows the police to officially document the accident including vehicle damage and any possible injuries so that there is a record of the accident for any potential civil/personal injury lawsuits later. A police report is authoritative and outlines exactly what happened. An insurance company or court can’t really argue much about an accident report.
7) Provides an unbiased third party report about the accident. This can be more effective evidence than what is simply hearsay or the retelling of the story by either you or the other person involved in the accident.
8) Provides a safe guard in the event you are actually injured in the accident but don't immediately realize it on scene. Consider that not every injury presents symptoms immediately. It is very possible that you believe you have not sustained any injuries in the accident, only to begin experiencing pain later on. If you filed a police report, and documented your condition, it will be much easier to seek appropriate compensation.
9) Provides a safe guard in the event that your vehicle sustained internal damage you may not have immediately noticed on scene.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Chatham Police Department
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