Am I Required to Call the Police After an Accident in Colorado?

 Posted on July 29, 2022 in Car Accident

Some people prefer not to deal with the police at all, even if they are positive they have not broken the law. This is understandable. However, if you have been involved in a traffic accident, notifying law enforcement is a necessity. In Colorado, drivers who have been involved in a collision are required to report it promptly. Even if the accident was minor - or it seems minor until your neck starts hurting the next day - filing a police report can protect you. Trying to file a claim for compensation is going to be a lot more difficult if you did not call the police right away. While you may not want to, it is crucial that you make the call. Your next phone call should be to a lawyer. 

Colorado Law Requires You to Call the Police After an Accident

According to state law, drivers who have been involved in a motor vehicle collision that causes injury or property damage must immediately report it to law enforcement. The only way you can legally avoid calling the police after an accident is if the collision was so minor that there is no damage at all to either vehicle. 

It is best to call 911 if anyone is hurt or in further danger, or if your cars are blocking the road and cannot be moved. You can call the non-emergency number if it seems that everyone is unharmed, out of danger, and off the road. 

Police may not bother taking a report if it was simply a fender-bender and both drivers are cooperative. For an accident more serious than a fender-bender, they likely will. 

How Can a Police Report Help My Claim?

Trained police officers can often piece together what likely transpired simply from looking over the accident scene. Things like the position of and damage to the crashed vehicles can show who was likely at fault. This can help your claim, as the police officer’s opinion will carry a lot of weight in court. 

The other major benefit is having a credible third party present right away, shortly after the accident. They will be able to make note of evidence like tire tracks and broken glass that may be gone by the time an attorney can start investigating. If it rains or snows, important evidence can easily be covered up within hours. A police report can create a record of what the scene looked like when the accident has just happened. 

Call a Larimer County Car Accident Lawyer

If you have been hurt in a car accident, Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. may be able to recover compensation on your behalf. Our skilled Ft. Collins car accident attorneys will use the police report and any other obtainable evidence to build your case. Call 970-225-2190 for a free consultation. 

Source: 

https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2016-title-42.pdf