Key Takeaways
- Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, a personal-injury claim from a Georgia car accident must be filed within two years of the crash — missing this deadline almost always extinguishes the claim entirely.
- Georgia's modified comparative negligence rule (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33) reduces your recovery by your share of fault and bars it completely at 50%.
- Georgia Department of Transportation crash data consistently shows urban arterial roads, intersections, and entrance ramps as the leading crash locations across the state.
- Hit-and-run drivers violate O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270, but criminal prosecution does not pay medical bills — recovery comes through your own UM coverage under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11.
- If you were injured in a Georgia crash, a Georgia car accident lawyer can evaluate insurance coverage, fault allocation, and damages — initial consultations through our contact page are free and confidential.
How Do I Get a Police Report for a Car Accident in Georgia?
Regardless of how careful you drive, a car accident can happen. You may be following traffic laws then an errant driver comes along and smashes your car.
Even if nobody’s hurt or the damage to your car is minor, it is always important that you report the incident to the police. Filing a police report serves only as a record of what happened, but it can also come in handy if you need to make an insurance claim after the accident.
While filing a police report following a car accident isn’t mandatory, it is vital in most cases.
Read along to find out how to get a Georgia accident report.
Call 911
Of course, the first thing to do following a car accident is to seek medical attention if you’re hurt – you might not be at your best to know what you’re doing.
But if you’re lucky enough to get out of a car accident unscathed, call 911 immediately!
Georgia police are required to come to the location of the incident if property damage worth or exceeding $500 is involved or if someone is injured or killed. They may also come simply because either driver requested them to show up.
Complete the Personal Report of Accident Form
When the police arrive at your location, they will ask you, as well as other involved parties questions about what happened. They will record the details in the Personal Report of Accident form.
Make sure you provide accurate information about the details of the incident. While what you say can’t be used against you in court, it may affect the outcome of your insurance claim.
If the police can’t come to your location because of one reason or another, it is important that you gather as much information as possible at the accident scene.
Write down details of the accident and, if possible, take pictures of the damages to your vehicle. If you have witnesses, ask them to share their contact details so you can get in touch with them in case the police need to get witness versions of the accident.
Visit the nearest police station to file your report and give the police the information you gathered.
Get Your Georgia Accident Report
Once you’re done filing your report with the police, you may need to get a copy of the report to use it for filing an insurance claim. Insurance companies tend to trust documents prepared by the police, as the police are considered to be an unbiased third party.
There are various ways to get your police report. You can:
- Go to the police station or your local DMV office in person and pick up the report,
- Order it online from the Buycrash.com website, or
- Ask your car accident attorney handle the paperwork on your behalf.
- You can get a free copy of the report here.
Georgia Auto Law Lawyers Can Help with Your Accident Compensation Claim
If you’re involved in a car accident and get injured, it is important to hire a Georgia car accident lawyer. Show them your copy of your Georgia accident report so they can use it to bolster your compensation claim.
At Georgia Auto Law, we help people injured in car accidents to get the compensation they deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is modified comparative negligence in Georgia?
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, a Georgia plaintiff who is less than 50% at fault can still recover, but their damages are reduced by their percentage of fault. At 50% or more, recovery is barred entirely. This is why insurance adjusters work hard to assign you any percentage of fault they can.
What if the at-fault driver has no insurance?
Georgia requires every auto policy to offer uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11. UM coverage on your own policy pays when the at-fault driver is uninsured, underinsured, or flees the scene. Multiple household policies can sometimes be stacked for higher limits.
Do I need a lawyer for a Georgia car accident claim?
For minor property-damage claims, often no. For any claim involving injuries, missed work, lasting symptoms, or disputed fault, a Georgia personal-injury attorney typically recovers far more than the policyholder would negotiating alone, even after the contingency fee. Initial consultations are free.
Should I give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer?
No. The adjuster’s job is to minimize the payout, and recorded statements are mined later for any admission of fault, exaggeration, or inconsistency. You can decline politely and refer them to your attorney or your own insurer.
