What Happens If You Don’t Report A Car Accident In Georgia?
Nobody wants to get into a car accident. However, regardless of how safely you operate your vehicle, there is a chance that you will be in an accident caused by another person’s careless or negligent actions. As the population of Georgia continues to grow, particularly in the urban areas of the state, so do the chances of an accident occurring. It is important for everyone involved in an accident to know what to do in the aftermath, including reporting the accident and exchanging information. Failing to report a car accident in Georgia can result in serious problems for all parties involved.
When does a car accident have to be reported?
Under Georgia law, there are certain circumstances in which police must be notified by dialing 911 after an accident. This includes:
- any accidents that occur in a city that requires reporting
- an accident in which a person is injured or killed
- an accident that causes more than $500 in property damage
Additionally, even if an accident does not meet the legal requirements to be reported, your insurance carrier may require a report for the incident. In the aftermath of a crash, you should review the reporting requirements and your insurance agreement.
Failing to report an accident in Georgia
Failing to report an accident could result in you being charged with hit and run or failure to report. These are serious crimes that can result in a range of penalties, including a suspended license, fines, and even jail time. Additionally, you risk losing your insurance coverage for the accident if you fail to notify your insurance carrier soon after the incident happens.
In many cases, both parties in the immediate aftermath of an accident agree to part ways without reporting what happened. This could be due to one or both parties not wanting their insurance rates to rise or a failure to recognize the amount of damage that has occurred. It can be tempting in these instances to not report the accident, particularly if there are no immediately apparent injuries.
However, it is important to recognize that the signs and symptoms of many car accident injuries do not appear for hours or even days after the accident takes place. If you have left the scene of the accident and not made a report, but later realized that you are injured, you could struggle to receive the compensation you need through an insurance claim. As soon as the parties leave the scene of an accident, evidence disappears, and it becomes hard to assign liability.
Should you speak to an attorney about your case?
If you or somebody you care about has been involved in an accident in Georgia, there is no harm in seeking a free consultation from a skilled car accident attorney. An Atlanta car accident attorney will understand Georgia car accident laws and help you through this process, regardless of the situation you may be in. Even if you have left the scene of an accident without making a report, that does not mean there is no hope of securing compensation. These incidents require investigation, and your attorney will have the resources and experience necessary to get you through this. Dealing with aggressive insurance carriers and other parties involved in the accident can be very complicated, but your attorney can handle all of that for you.