Does anyone know the penalty (fines, suspension of license, etc.) if a car-accident report is filed a day or several days too late in Texas? (postmark-mail date.)
Ok, so you get in a wreck. You give the other party your insurance information. As long as you did that, it’s your business when you file. You don’t have to file at all - you can just pay to repair the damages yourself or get out a roll of duct tape. Your insurance company may deny the claim if you wait to long, but I don’t see how you would face any kind of penalty.
Now, if you hit the gas and leave the other driver in your dust, yeah, that’s a crime.
When I got in a wreck in Texas, I gave the other driver my insurance information. We both left the scene right after , not wanting the cops to show up and hand out citations. I then called my insurance company and reported the wreck. The car was towed to a repair shop and fixed.
Another wreck, I also called it in, but the other driver had the same insurance company, so it took a few days for the insurer to talk to both drivers. The other driver took responsibility so it was a hit on his liability coverage. I then was told the damage was covered, but I didn’t bring the car in to be repaired for several months. (I had the damage assessed but I didn’t bring the car back until it was convenient for me)
Again, I didn’t report this to the state, only the insurance company, and no police were involved.
Had I been late in doing this I guess my insurance company might have balked at paying, although they probably would have ultimately paid. A few days either way doesn’t make any difference to them.
If the damage is more than $1000, or there is an injury or death, Texas Law requires you submit an accident report within 10 days.
The law states that a person commits “an offense” if they don’t submit on time, but doesn’t specify the offense from what I can see. My guess is probably a class B misdemeanor.
Aside from a (probably made-up) story in What every 18 year-old should know about Texas Law, I’ve never heard of anyone being cited for not submitting a report in time.
Google. Google never changes. Section 601.004 actually says what the offense and punishment is:
Emphasis added
So a $25 misdemeanor. Plus temporary license suspension if death, injuries, or substantial property damange were involved.
ETA: IANAL, IANAT*, I’m just reading what Google found, if there’s context that makes this inappropriate I wouldn’t know. This is not legal advice (duh!).
