if you call the cops for a minor hit-and-run and they’re swamped, do they ever just tell you to file online or something? Or do you have to wait around for hours?
Honestly, I’ve had it go both ways. One time, the officer straight up told me to just file a report online since no one was hurt and the damage was under a certain amount. Saved me a ton of time. But another time, they insisted on sending someone out, and I sat there for almost two hours. I get wanting to cover yourself, but sometimes the online report is all they’ll give you if it’s just property damage. I wouldn’t count on a shortcut every time, though... seems to depend on the day and who picks up the phone.
Yeah, that tracks with what I’ve seen. A lot of departments have moved to online reporting for minor stuff, especially if nobody’s hurt and there’s no suspect info. But here’s the kicker—some insurance companies want an official police report, even if it’s just from their online system. Others are fine with your own documentation and photos. It’s worth double-checking your policy or calling your agent before you leave the scene, just in case you need something specific for your claim. The rules can be weirdly inconsistent depending on where you are...
That’s a good point about insurance companies being all over the place with what they want. I had a fender bender in a parking lot last year—nobody around, just me and my poor bumper. I figured I’d just snap some pics and file the claim, but my insurance actually wanted a police report, even though there was no suspect and it was pretty clear-cut. Ended up doing the online report thing, which was way less hassle than waiting for an officer to show up, but still took longer than I expected.
I’m curious—has anyone ever had their claim denied because they didn’t have the “right” kind of report? Like, is there a big difference between an in-person police report and one you file online? I always assumed as long as you had some kind of official documentation, you’d be good, but maybe that’s not always the case.
Also, does it matter if it’s public property vs. private? My friend told me her insurance made a fuss because her car was hit in a grocery store lot, and apparently that changed how the cops handled it. Seems like there are a lot of weird little rules that nobody tells you about until you’re in the middle of it.
It’s kind of wild how much this stuff varies by city or even by which officer you talk to. Makes me wonder if it’s better to just over-document everything—photos, video, timestamps—just in case someone tries to say you didn’t do enough. Anyone ever gone overboard with documentation and had it actually help their case?
Yeah, insurance can be a real mixed bag. I’ve never had a claim denied just because I did the online police report instead of in-person, but I did have an adjuster ask way too many questions about it once. In my experience, more documentation never hurts—one time I had a stack of photos, receipts, even a timestamped video, and it actually sped things up. I do think private property can get weird, though. Parking lot incidents seem to confuse everyone—sometimes the cops won’t even come out unless there’s an injury. I just assume I’ll need to prove everything six ways from Sunday, just in case.
That’s pretty much been my experience too—overprepare, and you’re less likely to get the runaround. I do wish there was more consistency with how parking lot stuff gets handled. The “prove it six ways” approach is exhausting, but it’s saved me a couple times.
