What happens if you don't report an accident in Oregon?

Asked by: Julianne McLaughlin  |  Last update: February 23, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (7 votes)

If you do not file a report when required, Oregon law requires DMV to suspend your driving privileges for five years or until you file a report, whichever is sooner. (ORS 809.417(1)).

What happens if you don't file an accident report in Oregon?

In short, if your motor vehicle crash meets certain criteria, you must submit an Oregon Traffic Accident and Insurance Report to the DMV within 72 hours. Failing to file a report when required can lead to complications, including the suspension of your driving privileges.

How long do you have to report an accident to insurance in Oregon?

Tear this sheet off your report, read and carefully follow the directions. Oregon law requires these reports be filed within 72 hours of the collision. If you are not able to file within the 72 hours, submit it as soon as possible.

Is Oregon a no-fault state for accidents?

Oregon is not a “no fault” state. Oregon follows a “fault” based system. In Oregon, the person who was “at fault” for causing the accident is responsible for any damages or harm resulting from the accident. This would include injuries, damage to vehicles, lost income, etc.

What happens if I don't report my accident to insurance?

There is no California law per se about notifying your insurance company after a collision, but your auto insurance policy is a contract. When you signed it, you agreed to the stipulations in the contract, which will almost certainly include the requirement to notify the insurance company promptly after an accident.

What Happens If You Are Not At Fault for An Car Accident?

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Does a non-reportable accident go on your record?

In California, it will go on your driving record if a police report was made, if the DMV was notified, or both. If no police report was made, but the damage to anyone's property (e.g. a car) exceeded $1,000.00, than the DMV must be notified of the collision within 10 days on form SR-1.

Will my insurance go up if I'm not at fault in Oregon?

Yes, insurance rates may go up even if the accident is not your fault, depending on the circumstances of the accident, the types of coverage you have, and your claims history. However, the increase may not be as significant as it would for an at-fault accident.

How long does an at fault accident stay on your record in Oregon?

The certified court print driving record includes most traffic violations and accident entries for at least the previous five years. Serious criminal traffic offenses, such as driving under the influence of intoxicants, may remain on the record permanently.

Is Oregon on a fault?

The Cascadia Fault marks the edge of Oregon's active subduction zone.

How late can you report an accident to insurance?

In California, personal injury claims from accidents must be filed within two years from the incident date.

Do I have to talk to the other person's insurance company?

You are not legally required to speak with the other driver's insurance company or give a recorded statement. They often employ tactics to use your statements against you, potentially minimizing your payout. You should report the accident to your own insurance company.

What is the time limit for insurance claims in Oregon?

Generally, Oregon's state laws establish the following: The time limit for a personal injury claim is two years. The time limit for a property damage claim is six years.

What is the difference in meaning between a crash and accident?

Crash vs. Accident. The word accident implies that a car crash happened through the fault of nobody in particular. This can be seen in the commonly used phrase, “It was just an accident.” On the other hand, the word crash indicates that someone caused the car wreck to happen, or that someone is actually at fault.

What happens if the person at fault in an accident has no insurance in Oregon?

If you cause an accident and you are uninsured, then you can be personally sued for money damages by any injured person. If they receive a judgment against you for money damages, and you do not pay within 60 days, your license can be suspended until the judgment is paid.

How long do you have to report a car accident in Oregon?

Within 72 hours of a motor vehicle collision, you are required to submit an Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Report to DMV. The report must contain all of the following: Your name, date of birth, driver license number, and mailing address.

Is Oregon a no fault accident state?

Since Oregon is a fault car accident state, you have two options to recover compensation after a collision: an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. You will need to follow two similar but distinct processes to prove liability in each of these claims.

Does reporting an accident affect insurance?

It's only when you file a claim that you may face a rate adjustment. By reporting the accident, you'll be covered if the damage or injuries are significant but if you don't need to make a claim, you've risked nothing.

Should I file a claim if I'm not at fault?

Always File a Claim, Regardless of Who Was At-Fault

One of the primary questions we receive from clients who have been in an accident is whether they should report the accident to their own auto insurance carrier, particularly when the accident was not their fault. And the answer to that question is: always.

What is accident forgiveness?

What is Accident Forgiveness? Available in select states, Accident Forgiveness is an auto insurance coverage option that potentially helps you avoid a rate increase after your first at-fault accident. Others on your policy can also benefit from Accident Forgiveness. But it can only be used once per policy.

Who is at fault in a non-reportable accident?

Non-reportable just means the damage was below a certain $ determined by your state/county/city/etc. to be reportable. This does not mean you aren't financially liable for the damage you caused to the other. The other driver certainly has every right to file a claim against your insurance.

Can I file an insurance claim without a police report?

If no one was injured in the accident and property damage is minor: You have no legal obligation to report the accident to the police under California law. However, filing a police report is still in your best interest if you plan to file an insurance claim for any property damage sustained in the collision.

Will police investigate a minor hit and run?

Will Police Investigate a Minor Hit-and-Run? Yes, law enforcement takes all hit-and-run accidents seriously, even those that only cause property damage. Calling the police is the first thing you should do when in a hit-and-run accident. Officers must investigate any crash where a driver flees the scene.

When must an accident be reported?

NB: A report must be received within 10 days of the incident. For accidents resulting in the over-seven-day incapacitation of a worker, you must notify the enforcing authority within 15 days of the incident, using the appropriate online form.