In Columbus, the accident reporting differs a little bit from the rest of Ohio. As a city, Columbus has decided that we need to report every accident or to report them as often as possible. To help this along, Columbus has a simple online reporting system, but drivers may not realize that there are different systems, different reports, and it may be confusing to know if you’re filing the correct report.
During your wreck, consider the different reports that you’re responsible for filing. Make sure that you take care of everything possible so that nothing pops up later as a surprise! You’ll have to file a police report, a crash report with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and give a statement to your insurance provider.
Know Your Reports
There are crash reports and police reports and then statements to your insurance company. Each usually contains the same information but serves a different purpose. Now, if the wreck was really bad or contained injuries, then it’s likely that a Columbus officer would complete the police report. But you can also go online and file a crash report through the Columbus police offices.
Columbus has special reporting and driving guidelines that differ slightly from the rest of Ohio, and even from Cincinnati and Cleveland that have their own rules. After your police report, you’ll also need to file a report with the Columbus BMV, and that report will stand to alert the bureau that there was a wreck involving you and other drivers.
Finally, your insurance statement involved will explain what happened to your insurance policy. Many people, unfortunately, make statements that can compromise their claim and their ability to recover some financial relief. Statements such as I crossed lanes, without acknowledging that you checked your mirrors might bring aspects of the crash and other reports into question.
When To File a Police “Crash” Report
In theory, you should file this report whenever there are any injuries associated with the crash, and whenever there was more than $400 in damage. It’s really easy for any crash to result in a $400 of damage, having to replace a bumper often exceeds that dollar amount. When you’re thinking about whether you need to file a report or not, it’s always best to file anyway.
Do You Have to Inform the BMV?
In short, yes, you need to inform the BMV with a proper crash report and included in that you need to submit a copy of the police report to the BMV too. What you’re doing here is to establish all the information that may impact any driver’s record.
The BMV crash report is a little different because it’s looking to see if you have coverage if the claim was denied if there was property damage and more. The goal of these reports is to not only track crashes within the city but collect data on the coverage and extent of auto insurance policies. They’re looking for ways to ensure that people are getting the benefits of their coverage as the BMV and insurance providers often exchange information.
City of Columbus Online Form
The city of Columbus is one of the few cities that really has a good hold on allowing people to submit accident reports. The form is available online but must be printed and then submitted to the Columbus police. The point of this form is to establish a legal document or paper trail of the wreck and the people or cars involved in the wreck.
As you go through and complete this form, ensure that all the information is accurate to the best of your abilities before you submit it. Also, be sure that you’ve signed it and that it’s clear or easy to read.
Should Columbus Drivers Get an Auto Accident Attorney?
In theory, your wreck might be minor, and it might be reasonable to resolve it entirely on your own. However, if you’re worried about filing a police report and how to alert the authorities of your crash, then you might have a bigger matter on your hands. If you think that the authorities need to be involved in your crash, then you might also consider bringing in an attorney.
In Columbus, every driver is required to report a crash through their reporting system or a police report if it meets certain requirements. If your crash meets the requirements, then think about contacting Ohio1 for more legal support. At Ohio1, our team goes through the details of your crash to match you with the best attorney on our team for your wreck.
