The reports, and why there are two
Police usually prepare a report when they respond, and you can request a copy. Separately, New York requires drivers involved in many crashes, including any crash with an injury, to send their own report to the DMV within a short time. Failing to file can affect your license, so it is worth doing even when the police already have a report. Your insurer also needs prompt notice under the policy. None of these reports decides fault for a later claim, but inconsistencies between them are often pointed out.
If you were a passenger
Passengers are often hurt in crashes where they had no control at all, and their claims can run against more than one driver. A passenger can usually claim no-fault benefits, and which policy pays depends on the vehicles involved and the policies in the passenger's household. When the driver is a friend or relative, people hesitate to make a claim. In practice such a claim is usually paid by the driver's insurance, up to its limits. Multi-vehicle crashes may require looking at each driver's role separately. If you were riding in a taxi, a rideshare car, or a work vehicle, tell your lawyer, because commercial coverage may change who pays.
Steps that protect a later claim
See a doctor promptly and follow through with recommended care, because the record built in these weeks is what any claim relies on. Keep the incident number and claim numbers in one place, along with photographs and repair paperwork. Avoid discussing fault with other drivers' insurers until you know where you stand. When you call us, we look at every vehicle and policy involved and confirm which deadlines are already running. A traffic accident that looks simple can change once the injuries are clearer, so early advice is mostly about keeping options open.
