What should we do about a car accident that was not reported to the police?
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What should we do about a car accident that was not reported to the police?
We were in a car accident 6+ months ago. The lady we hit did not want us to call the cops. She said she was not going to file a claim. Now we are getting sued, attorneys keep calling us, asking for money that we do not have. We are not even sure if the accident was our fault. What should we do?
Asked on March 8, 2011 under Accident Law, Ohio
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Ok, calm down. You should always report an accident to the police. It is generally a requirement under the law in every state, even if only one car is involved. Now, besides that right now, were you insured? Did you report the accident to your insurance? That is what you need to do asap. You are entitled to a defense and indemnification (payment of a claim if the accident is found to be caused by you) under your insurance contract so you need to let them know about the accident AND forward them the paperwork you received NOW. Don't worry about the police report at this point. You can always file one later. Good luck.
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