Tennessee has an additional reporting requirement when the accident results in $400 or more in property damage, or causes death or physical injuries. However, in some cases you do have a grace period to contact the police after an accident occurs. The simplest way to report a crash is to dial 911. ... You can make an insurance claim without a police accident report on file, but an official report substantiates the facts of the accident and what happened. The official police report can be used to preserve any evidence found at the scene. Are you wondering why it's important to file a police report after an auto accident? Record the time and location: Make a note of the time and location of the accident. Quite simply, if you have a significant claim, an insurer is not going to pay it on your say-so. The police report can provide valuable information for your car insurance company, and it can help protect you in the event of an accident-related lawsuit. This is a crime that could result in criminal charges and serious penalties in Nevada. When damages exceed $1,000: It doesn't take much of an impact to create $1,000 worth of damage, especially if newer models are involved. In most states, it's a misdemeanor hit-and-run if one leaves the scene of an accident that only results in property damage -- in other words, if no one was injured in the accident. Filing a police report right away is ideal, but you may be able to file a report later on if you didn't contact 911 immediately after the accident. The aftermath of a car accident can be confusing, making you fail to call the police from the scene of the collision. Filing a police report is just one of a few duties you have following a car accident in Nevada. Filing an accident report with the police is an essential step to take after a car accident. Although the best-case scenario is to stay at the scene and call 911 before leaving if it caused injuries, deaths, or more than $500 in property damages, this is … Of course, in fact if you don't you could be charged with leaving the scene of an accident. Indiana’s Legal Penalties for Leaving the Scene of a Car Accident. The Process of Filing a Police Report. (Be sure that you get a copy for your insurance claim.) Well, you may be surprised Why You Should Always File a Police Report at the Scene of an Accident If you do leave the scene of an accident, here are a few things that may happen to you: Misdemeanor Hit-and-Run. In general, when we talk about the filing of a formal report after an auto accident, we are talking about one of two forms: MV-104A (Police Accident Report) — This is the official police report the responding officer files after your accident. Overview of Leaving the Scene of an Accident If a person leaves the scene of an accident, even if he or she was not at fault, the person may face a variety of criminal charges. Leaving the scene without fulfilling these duties classifies as a hit-and-run. Often, it is best to file a police report while you are at the scene of the accident. But of course by delaying you have taken away the ability of the police to do a good accident report since time has gone by and the cars are no longer available to be seen. In New York, the terms “accident report” and “police report” can get confusing. Call the police: Some states require you to file a police report, even if there is a written note by the other driver. When to Submit a Personal Accident Report in Tennessee. The officer who arrives on the scene prepares a crash report. The dispatcher will also notify the police, and the officer at the scene of the accident will file the police report.