Following a motor vehicle accident you may be shaken up, injured, or scared. Your first instinct might be to immediately dial 911. You might be surprised to learn that police are not required to attend the scene of every car accident. Instead, the 911 operator may advise you to head to a collision reporting centre within 24 hours to report the accident.

Having now learned this, you might be asking yourself, when am I supposed to call the police then? Below are the main reasons you should call the police to a scene of a motor vehicle accident. If you are unsure in the moment, it is always best to call 911, especially if someone is injured. The operator will direct you on what to do in this situation. Otherwise, the following are common reasons to call the police following an accident:

• Someone is injured: as mentioned, if anyone is injured, contact 911. Ambulance and police services will be dispatched to the scene. Following an accident safety is a top priority. If anyone is injured it is always best to ensure they receive treatment by medical professionals immediately.
• You are unsure about the amount of property damage: police will typically attend the scene of a motor vehicle accident if the damage to either vehicle is severe. Otherwise, if no one is injured and the damage to the vehicles is minor, the operator may advise you to attend a collision reporting centre. If you are unsure about how much damage there is, contact 911 and explain the situation.
• You feel unsafe: car accidents are stressful situations. At times, the involved parties may become combative, accusatory, or aggressive. Further, the car accident may have occurred in an area where you are vulnerable to further accidents (i.e., on a highway). If you feel unsafe for any reason, contact the police.
• To ensure evidence is correctly documented: Police do an excellent job of collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and investigating who may be at fault. If the police attend the scene, you will have a detailed record of what exactly happened, which may be useful for future litigation. Remember to be honest to the police officers attending the scene, so that they have an accurate description of what occurred.

Even if police do not attend the scene, make sure you read up on what to do immediately after a motor vehicle accident. Our team is here to help, reach out today with any questions you may have regarding a motor vehicle accident or personal injury claim.