How long do you have to report a car accident in each state?
Car accidents can be a problem for a number of reasons. The potential damage to the driver and passengers of each vehicle is obviously the biggest concern, but vehicle damage and subsequent insurance deals are also a concern. On top of that, accidents often happen in the middle of the road and you have to worry about getting cars out of the way.
All these other things to worry about can sometimes obscure the fact that most accidents need to be reported to the police. Drivers are required by law to report any accident that results in injury or significant damage to personal property. Even if none of the above has happened, it is a good idea to report the accident in case the injuries are found out later, or the owner of the vehicle you are involved in does not honor the terms of your insurance contract or makes false claims against you.
Because of this, you should always consider reporting a car accident. However, there is a limit on how long you can wait after an accident before reporting it. This limit varies from state to state, so be sure to review this list and check your state's deadline for reporting an incident.
Time you must report an accident in each state
- Alabama: 30 days
- Alaska: 10 days
- Arizona: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Arkansas: 90 days
- California: 10 days
- Colorado: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Connecticut: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Delaware: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Florida: 10 days
- Georgia: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Hawaii: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Idaho: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Illinois: 10 days
- Indiana: accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Iowa: accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Kansas: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Kentucky: 10 days
- Louisiana: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Maine: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Maryland: 15 days
- Massachusetts: five days
- Michigan: accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Minnesota: 10 days
- Mississippi: Crash must be reported immediately by phone
- Missouri: 30 days
- Montana: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Nebraska: 10 days
- Nevada: accident must be reported immediately by phone
- New Hampshire: 15 days
- New Jersey: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- New Mexico: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- New York: five days
- North Carolina: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- North Dakota: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Ohio: six months
- Oklahoma: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Oregon: three days
- Pennsylvania: five days
- Rhode Island: 21 days
- South Carolina: 15 days
- South Dakota: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Tennessee: 20 days
- Texas: 10 days
- Utah: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Vermont: five days
- Virginia: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Washington: four days
- West Virginia: five days
- Wisconsin: Accident must be reported immediately by phone
- Wyoming: 10 days
For states requiring immediate reports, you must use your cell phone if you have one or a public phone if you can get to it. If for any reason you are unable to report the incident as soon as it occurs, contact the police department or Department of Motor Vehicles as soon as possible.
Reporting an incident is very important, so make sure you do this every time there is injury or property damage and consider doing this every time you have an accident. If you meet these deadlines, the reporting process will be simple and smooth.
