If you were injured in a car accident in Utah, it’s important to act as quickly as possible to manage your claim. Taking the right steps can take time, and you may need guidance on details of your claim. For example, many car accident victims may not be aware of accident reporting requirements, or they’re not aware of how much an accident report can help with their claim.

That’s why it’s important to understand every part of your claim. If you’re not sure how to report a car accident in Utah, check out the steps below and talk your claim over with your attorney to ensure you’re taking the right steps.

Why Reporting Car Accidents Matters

When you’re injured in an accident, you want as much evidence as possible on your side. That means seeking out more than photos of the accidents and statements from bystanders. Having an official police report filed about your car accident can help you recover compensation.

While reporting your car accident can help you, failing to report can lead to serious consequences. For example, failure to report an accident to the police is a Class C misdemeanor, which could even mean jail time if you fail to report your accident. Because of this, it’s important to act now and file your report.

Reporting Requirements

Immediately after the car crash, it’s important to stay at the scene of the accident. If you can, you may need to move your car out of traffic, but otherwise, it’s best to wait until the police and the paramedics arrive.

If the extent of the damage seems to be worth more than $1,500, or if someone was injured or killed in the accident, you’re required to report the accident. If you fail to report this, you could be in serious trouble, so it’s best to call 911 right away and let the police handle the aftermath of the car accident.

Typically, the police officer is required to file a report of the accident anyway. However, the Utah Department of Public Safety, or DPS, may request a report from you as well. Fortunately, your car accident attorney in Utah can help you fill out this report.

How to Get Your Report

When you’re preparing for a lawsuit after a car accident, getting your accident report might be your next step when gathering evidence for your claim. However, you may not have a copy of this, and you may not be sure how to get your copy.

Fortunately, that’s simple to get. In Utah, you’ll typically send in an online request for your information. If you’re having trouble with the forms, your Sandy car accident lawyer can help you fill out the information and request your report.

The cost of your report will depend on what you include. For example, for a report under ten pages, it will cost five dollars per copy. However, if you request dash cam footage or photos of the same, your report could cost up to twenty-five dollars per video or other extra evidence.

Use Your Utah Car Accident Report in the Courtroom

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, filing a car accident report can help you win your claim and get compensated for the losses you’ve suffered. Your accident report can help you show the court that the other person was at fault, making it easier to get the compensation you need for an economic recovery.

If you’ve been hurt by another driver, don’t neglect to file and get a copy of your car accident report. You never know when it could save your claim, after all.