Minor accident with a tractor trailer? Always call cops.

[dwayneb236]

The department I work at does not work accidents unless there is major damage, injury or death. Our dispatchers just tell everyone involved to exchange information. There are many times people refuse to do this and we have to go out. At that time we'll just have them exchange information while we are there. Then we leave. We do not investigate minor accidents. That's for the insurance company to do, who for the record, I despise as they always make it incredibly difficult for the poor victims of some idiot driver.
If we do respond and take an accident report, we almost always get differing stories. Unless it's pretty obvious the officer can't do a lot as of course, he probably wasn't there. You'll see in the officers statement section of the report that it states this is his OPINION only, not absolute.


Generally an accident is a civil issue, not criminal.

[doc73]

Originally Posted by dwayneb236

The department I work at does not work accidents unless there is major damage, injury or death. Our dispatchers just tell everyone involved to exchange information. There are many times people refuse to do this and we have to go out. At that time we'll just have them exchange information while we are there. Then we leave. We do not investigate minor accidents. That's for the insurance company to do, who for the record, I despise as they always make it incredibly difficult for the poor victims of some idiot driver.
If we do respond and take an accident report, we almost always get differing stories. Unless it's pretty obvious the officer can't do a lot as of course, he probably wasn't there. You'll see in the officers statement section of the report that it states this is his OPINION only, not absolute.


Generally an accident is a civil issue, not criminal.

We are the same way, we will exchange the info though if not too busy. As far as investigating the minor none reportable crashes (no injuries, or vehicles towed) I write what unit one says then rewrite what unit two says. We assign no fault and asert no opinion on the matter. We will take a witnesses name for the report but take no statements. Most people want nothing to do with other people's issues so we rarely have witnesses.

[Sterlingsilver]

How about a dash cam video?

[dwayneb236]

Nice to have for the insurance company to view. Good also of it's a major accident with death or injury and a report is taken.