Posted in Car Accident
New Hampshire requires drivers to take specific steps at the scene of a crash and to file a written report afterward in certain cases. The rules come from RSA 264:25, and they apply even in minor car accidents. Below, we explain what the statute requires and how it fits with an injury claim.
Drivers Must Stop and Share Information at the Scene
RSA 264:25 requires the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident to stop immediately at the scene. The driver must give the other driver, any injured person, and the property owner the following information:
- Name and address
- License number
- Insurance information
- Registration number
- The name and address of each occupant of the vehicle
If none of those people are able to receive the information, it must go to a uniformed police officer at the scene or to the nearest police station.
A Written Report Is Due Within Fifteen Days
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident in any manner must file a written report with the division within 15 days. The report is required when anyone is injured or killed. If no one is hurt, it is required when property damage exceeds $1,000.
When police investigate the crash, no separate driver report is needed. The investigating officer’s report satisfies the requirement.
Owners Have a Duty When the Driver Can’t Report
If the driver is physically or mentally unable to make the report, the owner of the vehicle or the owner’s representative must report right away after learning of the accident. An owner whose vehicle was illegally parked when it was involved in an accident must also file. Owners of other involved vehicles may file voluntarily.
A Report and a Claim Do Different Jobs
The written report records basic facts about the crash. A legal claim requires more, including proof of what the other driver did to cause the accident and how the injuries affect the victim’s daily life. Drivers hurt in Manchester can ask a Manchester car accident lawyer to build that proof from the report, the scene, and the medical records.
Fault becomes the central question once the facts have been gathered. Determining fault depends on evidence from the scene, the vehicles, and the witnesses. A timely-filed accident report is the starting point to a strong evidentiary case.
Statements and Filing Deadlines After a Crash
An insurance company can repeat anything said after a crash. Knowing what not to say helps a driver avoid statements that could be used against them.
The report isn’t the only deadline a driver faces. The court filing deadline for an injury claim is a separate matter, and the statute of limitations runs on a different timeline. Keeping both dates in mind helps a driver avoid a missed legal deadline.
Other Vehicles Follow the Same Reporting Rule
The reporting rule applies to any vehicle involved in a crash, so a collision with a commercial vehicle carries the same 15-day report. Company records and driver logs add to the evidence, and a Manchester truck accident lawyer can identify which records matter.
Riders follow the same rule. Questions about visibility and speed can go to a Manchester motorcycle accident lawyer along with the report.
Pedestrian claims raise right-of-way questions. An injured pedestrian can go over the crash records with a Manchester pedestrian accident lawyer.
Who We Represent
At Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C., we represent injured plaintiffs on a contingency fee basis, and our firm has 48 years of experience in personal injury law. Attorney Michael J. Fontaine, our managing partner, joined us in 1985 and has more than 40 years of litigation experience. Attorney Israel F. Piedra, a shareholder who joined us in 2015, practices personal injury law and appeals.
Drivers Benefit From Knowing the Reporting Rules
Drivers who learn the 15-day report rule and the information to exchange before a crash are better placed to protect themselves afterward. Anyone hurt in a Manchester crash who has questions about the report or the claim can reach out to us to go over the next steps.