Duties after a collision

Explanation

Remain at the accident scene. Give everyone involved your name, address and vehicle registration number, and show your driver’s license.

If someone is injured or killed:

• Provide reasonable assistance to injured or trapped people as directed by law enforcement, medical personnel or a 911 operator.
• Make sure law enforcement—local police, sheriff or state police—is notified as soon as possible.

If you strike an unattended vehicle or other property, stop and remain. Take reasonable steps to notify the owner. If you cannot find the owner, call a law enforcement agency to provide information.

After an accident, the BMV may request proof of financial responsibility. Your insurance provider—not you—must electronically file a Certificate of Compliance (COC). It shows that an effective policy meeting Indiana’s minimum liability protection covered you during the accident.

Example

You scrape an unattended parked car. You stop and try to find its owner. When you cannot locate the owner, you call law enforcement and provide the information instead of leaving.

Common mistake

Assuming that a note always completes your duty after hitting unattended property. The manual says to call law enforcement if the owner cannot be located.

What the manual says

The driver must remain at the scene of the accident, giving their name, address, and registration number of the motor vehicle to everyone involved, in addition to showing his or her driver’s license.

Your insurance provider must electronically file proof of financial responsibility in the form of a Certificate of Compliance (COC).