Requirements for Reporting Car Accidents in Maryland

After a car accident in Maryland, you may be required to report the incident. Knowing what to do could help save you from facing a penalty for failure to file under the law.

Our Maryland car accident attorneys further explain the state’s reporting requirements and why filing an accident report could be beneficial.

If you were injured in a crash, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your injury and other damages. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your available legal options.

Reporting Requirements for Drivers

If you happen to be involved in an accident on a Maryland roadway, it is important that you know when a car wreck must be reported to law enforcement. Not all accidents require reporting.

When Accident Reports Must Be Filed

A car accident must be reported if one of the following factors applies:

• Any person involved is injured or killed
• Unattended vehicles or property was damaged, and you are unable to find the owner
• A vehicle needs to be towed
• A drunk driver is involved in the accident
• The accident is a hit and run
• A driver cannot or refuses to exchange information with you
• A domestic animal was hit

Why Accidents Need to Be Reported

Reporting a collision is important because the accident report created provides evidence of the incident. Whether pursuing an insurance claim or lawsuit, the report offers a great deal of information that is useful to an attorney when building a strong case on your behalf. The insurance company will also need to have access to this report for use in a claims investigation.

Filing an Accident Report in Maryland

After an accident that requires reporting, drivers have 15 days to file a written statement with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The statement must include:

• The name and address of the driver’s insurance company
• The policy number for the driver’s liability insurance policy
• The name and address of the driver’s local insurance agent

All drivers involved in the accident are also required to submit reports to provide evidence of liability insurance. If a driver is unable to make the report due to injury or refuses to comply, the MVA may require the owner of the vehicle to report the accident and provide evidence of the driver’s liability insurance.

Once the report is received, the MVA may request supplemental written reports. This is done if the original report did not contain sufficient information to prove the driver’s liability coverage.

It is important to note that it is not necessary to file a report with the MVA if a police officer responded to and investigated your accident and filed a police report with the Department of State Police.

If a report is not filed for an accident that requires reporting, the MVA may suspend or revoke the driver’s license and registration for all the driver’s vehicles, not limited to the vehicle involved in the accident in question. A suspension order can be placed on any vehicle involved in the accident, even if the driver was not the owner of the involved vehicle.

Contact Our Lawyers for Legal Help

If you were injured in a car accident, our experienced attorneys at The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl are ready to help you pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Request a free consultation to get started on your claim. There are no upfront fees, and you only pay for our services if we recover compensation for you.

We are available to take your call anytime. 410-244-7005.