If you were in an accident in Ohio, you have five days to report the accident to the police if:
- Someone was injured or lost their life.
- There was more than $1000 in property damage.
That said, you don’t have to report the accident if it was minor. However, reporting the accident may be beneficial, as you may find out later that you need medical care or help paying for property damage costs. As a result, not having the report could make it difficult for you to recover these losses.
When You Should Report an Accident to the Police
In addition to the above conditions per Ohio Revised Code Section 5502.11, if you are reporting a collision with an uninsured driver, you have six months from the date of the accident to report it.
Failing to report your accident within the mandatory time frame may prompt the state to penalize you.
Information You Should Include in Your Accident Report
For any vehicle accident report, you will need the following details in order to complete the form:
- The location of the accident
- How many people were involved, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians
- The location of the nearest intersection
- The time and date of the collision
- The value of the damage and property loss
- The location and amount of damage to your vehicle
- Weather and road conditions
You will also need information from the other driver(s), including:
- Full names and home addresses
- Their phone numbers
- Their drivers’ license numbers
- The license plate numbers
If You Were in an Accident With an Uninsured Driver
If you have had an accident caused by an uninsured driver, you will need at least three of the following pieces of information:
- Their name and home address
- Their date of birth
- Their driver license number
- Their Social Security number
How to Report an Accident in Ohio
If you called the police to the crash scene, the officer should have written up a report. In the event you didn’t call the police or aren’t sure they filed one, submit one yourself.
Some cities have different procedures for reporting an accident, such as by email or snail mail, so check with your local agency.
If the accident involved an uninsured driver, then you will need to complete a BMV 3303 crash report and submit it to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
How to Get a Copy of Your Crash Report
If you or the responding police officer file a vehicle accident report, you will be able to find it online at the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS). It can take up to six weeks for the report to be available online.
If you need the report sooner, you can contact the local police department that investigated the accident. The latter method may be the preferable option because documents obtained from the investigating division are official, whereas those downloaded from the ODPS website are not.
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A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You With Your Crash Report
Dealing with accident reports and filling out forms can be overwhelming. You may not be sure how to complete the form or know what your legal rights are after an accident. In that case, you may want to consult with a Columbus car accident lawyer.
In addition to getting the crash report in on time and explaining your options, they can deal with other aspects of your case. They may help you gather evidence and assess your accident-related losses. Your lawyer might discover that you are eligible to recover these damages:
- Vehicle repair or replacement
- Past and expected medical bills
- Lost income
- Reduced income capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death damages
If you file a claim for damages, the insurance company will want to conduct their own investigation. They may question the value of your claim or possibly deny it. An injury lawyer can speak on your behalf and work to ensure your right to recover damages is protected.
Choose the Fitch Law Firm LLC for Assistance with Your Vehicle Crash Case
At The Fitch Law Firm LLC, we are dedicated to helping all Ohio accident victims understand their legal rights and recovering the compensation they deserve. We will advise you throughout the case, from filing your accident report to your case resolution. Our team will handle all the complex parts of the procedure and litigate your case in court on your behalf if necessary.
Don’t wait any longer. Contact us now at (614) 545-3930 for a free consultation with our Columbus car accident lawyers today. Our firm takes car collision cases based on contingency, so we won’t ask for any fees or costs unless we recover your damages via a settlement or court award.