If you have ever been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Connecticut, you know how upsetting this can be. Even the most minor fender bender can leave you feeling shaky and unsure of what you are supposed to do. Even if you are able to remember some basics like sharing information with and collecting information from the other driver, you may not have given thought to filing an accident report. However, there are some rules about when this should be done and it is something you should be aware of.
According to AAA, every state has its own set of rules as to when you must file an accident report. There are also guidelines as to the timeframe in which you have to make your report. In Connecticut, any crash that causes some property damage of at least $1,000 must be report to authorities. You are required to report the crash within five days from the date on which it occurred.
Neighboring Massachusetts follows the same convention as Connecticut requiring reports within five days for damage exceeding $1,000. New York State and Rhode Island also list $1,000 as the damage threshold above which you must report any vehicular collision. However, in New York, you are given up to 10 days to file an accident report. Rhode Island will accept accident reports as many as 21 days after the actual crash occurred.
If you would like to know more about how to get help after an automobile accident or when you may need to report a vehicle crash, please feel free to visit the motor vehicle collision page of our Connecticut personal injury website.