What To Do if the Police Don’t Show Up After Your Car Accident When You Call 9-1-1
An accident can leave even the most seasoned driver confused and overwhelmed, but most of us know that one of the first things you should do after a crash is call 9-1-1 and summon authorities to the scene. However, the fact that this is the right thing to do doesn’t mean that things always go exactly as you may imagine. If you have ever had to call the police after a car accident, you probably know it can sometimes seem to take forever for the police to arrive. And in other circumstances, they never even show up at all.
Why Wouldn’t the Police Show Up?
According to the National Emergency Number Association, there are an estimated 240 million calls made to 9-1-1 each year. With all those emergencies, it is understandable that there are a variety of reasons why the police may not arrive after you call. Between strained resources and a sizable demand in many jurisdictions, the reality is that police officers don’t come to all accident scenes, especially when accidents are minor and there are no injuries.
What Should I Do if the Police Don’t Come?
If police do show up to the scene of your accident, the responding officers will fill out an accident report and document the scene. However, even when the police can’t come, the state of Florida does allow drivers who have been involved in minor collisions to self-report the crash in lieu of a law enforcement officer completing the crash report.
Most importantly, you should never rely on the honesty of an adverse party regardless of whether you are sure that the other person caused the accident or not and no matter what authorities show up. In particular, it’s a huge red flag if the other driver tells you that involving the authorities is unnecessary, no matter how compelling of a sob story that may follow. Even with a minor accident where you aren’t injured, having documented evidence in the form of a crash report can help protect you from unnecessary worries and ensure that you are able to get your vehicle repaired as smoothly and as quickly as possible. And even if the police aren’t involved at the scene of the accident, you should still exchange insurance information with the other driver and report the accident to your insurance provider and authorities.
We Will Always Show Up for You
Following a Florida car accident, you may begin to worry about affording medical bills, recovering from your injuries, and how to survive financially if you have to miss work because of your injuries. Fortunately, you have every legal right to seek help. As the Jacksonville personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm, we will stand by your side and make your rights our priority. Our skilled lawyers are experienced accident victim advocates who won’t settle early or for less than what you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Ocala, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
nena.org/page/911Statistics
