Handling Claims Without A Police Crash Report

Cities across the United States have seen a reduction in motor vehicle traffic and use as a result of COVID-19 and subsequent business closures, work-from-home policies and government emergency orders.

Some auto insurance companies have even provided credits or discounts to their insureds due to the unexpected reduction in claims. But while there may be less traffic, that does not mean accidents have stopped altogether.

However, in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, some police departments across the nation have revised their procedures for responding to non-injury automobile accidents, particularly in large metro areas and COVID-19 hotspots.

In early August 2020, for example, the Atlanta Police Department implemented a temporary but controversial policy of no longer dispatching officers to the scene of non-injury automobile accidents.

Instead, individuals involved in a non-injury automobile accident were directed to fill out a form online, which included the location of the accident and the vehicles and drivers involved.