what are the responsibilities for drivers involved in an accident Tag

Do I Have to Report a California Traffic Accident?

Most of us have a weird, knee-jerk reaction to traffic accidents. We like to pretend we don’t know about them and try to put as much distance between ourselves and the traffic accident as we possibly can. This is our reaction whether we’re involved in the accident or if we’ve simply witnessed one. When a traffic accident occurs, many of us wonder if we actually have to report it to the police. If you’re driving any of the vehicles involved in a car accident, you are legally required to report the accident to the police. Technically, you have 24 hours to complete a written report about the incident. All things considered, it’s in your best interest to report the accident as soon as it happens. There are several reasons for this:

• The responding officer will handle writing the written report for you
• Filing the insurance claim will be easier
• The events leading up to the cause of the accident is fresh in everyone’s mins
• You won’t have to worry about being labeled a hit and run driver