As an expert in personal injury law, I have seen the consequences of not reporting a car accident in Pennsylvania within the required time frame. It is crucial to understand that you only have five days to report an accident in this state. This short period of time can cause understandable difficulties for injured victims, which is why it is important to act quickly and seek legal assistance if needed. If you're having trouble reporting your car accident to Pennsylvania police officers within five days, your lawyer can help. Failure to report a car accident within this time frame can have serious legal consequences and jeopardize your ability to receive compensation for your injuries and property damage. In most cases, it is best to call the police while you're still at the scene of the accident to file a report.
This ensures that there is an official record of the incident and can help with any potential legal proceedings. However, if the accident is not serious enough to warrant a police response, you must still file an accident report with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation within five days. The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) allows for a request to be submitted 15 days after the incident to obtain a copy of the police accident report. If you find yourself in this situation, you have five days from the date of the accident to file Form AA-600 driving accident report. While it is usually the responsibility of the police to create an accident report, if they are not present at the scene and the accident is still serious enough, it may fall on you and the other driver. At Gilman & Bedigian, our team of experienced car accident and personal injury attorneys in Philadelphia are here to help.
We understand that being involved in a car accident can be stressful, especially when there is a legal obligation to report it to the Department of Transportation. Our attorneys have a deep understanding of the process and can guide you through the necessary steps, depending on the nature of the accident and whether the police were involved. It is important to note that Pennsylvania's statute of limitations gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit for a car accident. This means that if you do not report the accident within five days, you still have time to seek legal action. However, it is always best to report the accident as soon as possible to ensure that all necessary steps are taken and your rights are protected.