If you were involved in a car accident that caused minor damage and injuries, you may have exchanged information with the other driver and then carried on with your day without contacting the police.
Ideally, it’s best to call the police after an accident so you have a police report to show insurers. Without that, it could be your word against the other driver’s. However, if you’re wondering whether you can file an accident claim without a police report, the answer is yes – but it could make it harder to recover compensation.
In situations like these, consulting a Baton Rouge car accident attorney can help ensure that your rights are protected and guide you through the process of filing a claim, even if no police report was filed.
Do You Have To Call the Police After an Accident in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, you must call the police immediately if you were involved in a car accident that caused injury, death, or more than $500 in property damage.
Even if you aren’t required to call the police, you must give the other driver your name, address, vehicle registration, and driver’s license information.
What if You Don’t Call the Police?
If you don’t call the police after an accident, you risk hurting your potential car accident claim. The other driver could give you incorrect contact information or a fake name. They may change their story later when contacted by the insurance company.
Even though a police report technically can’t be used in court as evidence, it can still be useful for your insurance claim as well as settlement negotiations.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
Take the following steps if you’re involved in a car accident in Baton Rouge:
- You should first assess any injuries and contact emergency services if you or someone else needs immediate medical attention.
- If it’s safe to do so, you should then move your car out of traffic to avoid any further accidents.
- Call law enforcement to report the accident.
- Exchange contact information and vehicle registration information with the other driver.
- Seek medical attention for your injuries, even if they seem minor.
- Contact an experienced car accident lawyer.
- Inform your insurance company of the accident.
Our skilled Baton Rouge car accident attorneys can help you pursue justice in your case.
Can I File a Claim Without a Police Report?
In most cases, you can still file a claim without a police report. An injury attorney can help you evaluate your best course of action during a free consultation.
Keep in mind as well that if the other party blames you for the accident, it could reduce your compensation. Louisiana is a pure comparative negligence state, which means you can recover compensation against another at-fault party even if you’re partly responsible for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.
For example, if you suffered $100,000 in damages in a car accident but are found to be 40% at fault, you can only recover $60,000.
If you had a police report supporting your claim that the other party caused the accident, there’s a chance you wouldn’t have been found at fault.
Contact an Experienced Baton Rouge Car Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a car accident in Baton Rouge, a police report can help support your claim. The attorneys at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you pursue compensation for your injuries. Get in touch today for a free case review.
We have three convenient locations in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette. We proudly serve East Baton Rouge Parish, Lafayette Parish, Orleans Parish, and its surrounding areas:
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Baton Rouge Office
404 Europe Street
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70124
(225) 263-4787
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – New Orleans Office
318 Harrison Avenue Suite 107
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70802
(504) 294-3804
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Lafayette Office
1318 Camellia Boulevard Suite 206
Lafayette, Louisiana, 70508
(337) 473-2991