Regardless of your location, you must be careful to avoid automobile accidents. If you do get into an accident, however, you will want to know if you should file a car crash report in Illinois.
It is also important to remember that you never want to leave the scene of an accident. This is especially true if the accident results in death, injury, or property damage over $1,500. If you do leave the scene of an accident, you can serve up to three years in jail, receive a fine of up to $25,000 or even have your driver’s license suspended or revoked.
When to file an accident report
According to the Illinois General Assembly website, you have to file a car accident report if the accident causes death, bodily injury, or results in at least $1,500 in damages. You need to fill out a report and submit it to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Additionally, you must file no more than 10 days after the accident. Failure to file the appropriate report when required may result in fines, jail time or a reduction of driving privileges.
What to include in your accident report
In order to file a car crash report with the Illinois DOT, you will need to fill out a Motorist Crash Report and submit it. You can also complete this form online. You will need the following pieces of information to correctly fill out the report.
- Time and place of the accident
- Driver’s license information for all drivers involved in the accident
- Plate information including the number and state for all cars involved in the accident
- Name, date of birth, and address for all drivers involved
- Insurance information for all policyholders involved
- Address and names of all registered owners of the vehicles involved
- A detailed explanation of what happened during the accident
