When do i report an accident to the dmv

Assess yourself, passengers, and others involved in the accident for injuries. Call right away if there are serious injuries. Use a cellphone or digital camera to take pictures of the scene of the accident from several angles. Be sure to get pictures of the environment surrounding the crash area, such as road signs, traffic signals, or buildings. If possible, move the cars to the side of the road to avoid blocking traffic or causing another accident.

Call the police and notify them of the crash. If an officer is dispatched, wait for them to arrive and speak only to the officer. Depending on the details of your accident, an officer may not be dispatched to the scene. However, you may still want to contact the police so they can decide if a police report is necessary. Gather all of the important information related to the accident, involved drivers, and witnesses, including:. Notify your insurance agent or claims departments immediately after exchanging information or talking with the police to start the claims process.

If the other driver is determined to be at fault for the accident, you will likely need to contact their insurance company as well. Depending on where you live and the severity of the accident, you may need to file an accident report with your DMV if the police were not involved.

Check with your state DMV to determine if you need to file a report yourself. Do you need to contact the DMV after an accident? That depends on your state and the nature of the accident.

For example, drivers in Oregon have to file a DMV accident report within 72 hours of an accident if it involves any of the following:. An Oregon DMV crash report is not the same as a police report. This translation application tool is provided for purposes of information and convenience only.

The web pages currently in English on the DMV website are the official and accurate source for the program information and services the DMV provides. If any questions arise related to the information contained in the translated website, please refer to the English version. Google Translate is not support in your browser. This helps keep traffic moving.

You will also avoid getting a ticket for failure to remove your vehicle. Your browser is out-of-date! It has known security flaws and may not display all features of this and other websites.

Learn how. Skip to main content. When you have completed the form, the best way to file your accident report is to send it by mail or email directly to the DMV Crash Reporting Unit:. Save your sent email with the report and the auto-reply received from DMV.

Please do not mail or fax reports already sent by email. If your crash falls into any of these categories, both parties have to file a report with the DMV. The only exception to this rule is if your injuries from the crash were so severe you were unable to fill out the required paperwork. The aftermath of a collision can be extremely stressful, but there are some things you should do after any crash.