      
  4.9 
   146 reviews

How Long After an Accident Can You File a Police Report in New York?

Request a Case Review

Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C.

10b9db026d89119e951a851045ac17eee7784f79

Written/Reviewed By:

Barry S. Kantrowitz, Esq.

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Read Time: 4 mins

It’s in your best interest to file a report to authorities immediately following an accident. What exactly is your time frame for doing so in the state of New York? It’s important that you don’t delay too long as this may complicate procedures. Promptly filing a report also helps your case should you later decide to hire a personal injury lawyer.

When to Contact Law Enforcement

We recommend calling the police at the scene of the accident. This should be your course of action after assessing the accident and checking on the welfare of everyone involved. Some states give you up to 10 days from the date of an accident to file the report; this includes New York. However, it’s best to have police arrive at the scene. We highly recommend you call police while you, the other party involved, and witnesses are present.

New York law states that you must contact police “as soon as physically able.” Report using your mobile phone or borrow one if you do not have one. Alternatively, you may use the nearest pay phone. If these options are not available, then you may drive to the nearest police station if your car is operable. If this is not possible, then the last option is to call police ASAP as soon as you arrive home. If a passenger was in the vehicle, he/she may also file a report instead. The same goes for the owner of the vehicle if you do not own the car. However, the 10-day rule still applies in these instances.

When Is Filing a Report Necessary?

You don’t need to file a report in every scenario. A minor fender bender that resulted in nothing more than a scratch to the paint does not require a phone call to law enforcement. A report is also not necessary if you hit a parked car or other stationary object. You must, however, inform the owner by leaving a note with your contact information.

Generally, you are required to file a police report if the accident resulted in bodily injury, death, or more than $500 in property damage. The same applies if your vehicle is no longer operable and requires towing. It also applies if you plan on filing an injury or damage claim.

When filing a report, you may contact your local police department, county sheriff, or highway patrol. If a police officer responded to the scene and completed paperwork, then a report has been filed; you do not need to call police.

Reporting to Other Entities

You will also need to report any vehicular accidents to the DMV within 10 days and to your insurance provider within 24 hours. This is separate from filing a police report. Some people believe the DMV or their insurance will contact the police, who will then file the report. This is not the case. It is you who must contact law enforcement at the scene of the accident.

Failing to Report the Accident

The law requires you to report the accident. Failure to do so may result in a fine of $250, up to 15 days imprisonment, or a combination of the two. The penalty increases if you fail to report an accident involving bodily injury. This would be a Class A misdemeanor and punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and up to one year in prison.

Contacting an Injury Attorney

After filing a police report and taking other necessary steps, you can begin exploring other options. This includes hiring a NY & NJ car accident lawyer if you believe your case warrants monetary compensation. A personal injury lawyer can review the circumstances leading up to the accident and assess whether you have probable cause for filing a claim. In any case, to help your cause, you need to take the appropriate steps, and that begins with filing a police report at the scene of the accident.

Why Trust Us?

150+ Reviews

50+ Years of Service

Full-Service Law Firm

Client Reviews

    
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   LWelsh 
 30 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Clever and efficient.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Kenny Perlow 
 51 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. KGG Law, and Barry Kantrowitz in particular, set the bar high for what a thorough, practical, strategic, compassionate and smart lawyer can be. Everything about Barry's advice and representation was exemplary and the stress mitigation that resulted was invaluable. On top of that, the ultimate result Barry achieved was beyond what was reasonable to expect and we are forever grateful. Often, people say that you hire a lawyer to prevent a problem. Sometimes, unfortunately, you need an attorney to solve a problem and I could not recommend Barry and his firm any more highly in that regard.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Aliza Ali 
 115 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My dad had a great experience with this law firm. From the very beginning, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions. They kept us informed throughout the entire process and made what could have been a very stressful situation much easier to handle. We truly appreciated their dedication, honesty, and hard work. Thanks to their support, my dad felt confident every step of the way. We are very grateful for everything they did and would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable legal representation.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Jana Montero 
 118 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Sam Smith. He was very responsive, thorough, and easy to work with from start to finish. He walked me through everything clearly and made what started as a very stressful situation for me into something completely manageable. I would not hesitate to recommend him and the firm!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Mike Sakmann 
 124 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I sought legal advice regarding an employment matter and had an excellent experience working with Sam Smith, Esq. at KGG Law. Sam was thorough, attentive, and took the time to listen carefully to my concerns before providing clear, thoughtful guidance. I appreciated the professionalism and care shown throughout the process, and I would confidently recommend KGG Law to anyone in need of legal assistance.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Liz Hecker 
 130 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can't say enough about this firm. They manage to comfort you during the whole legal process while staying professional and doing what is right. I would recommend them to anyone and also hire them again if I need legal help.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Brandy Miller 
 153 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate is the best. She helped me very quickly, and was very attentive with all of my needs. So thankful for her
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Mike Greenspan 
 166 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate Carballo is a dedicated, passionate, and creative attorney whom I had the pleasure to lecture with at a state trial lawyer's conference. Kate's lecture demonstrated how she uses her innovative and "out-of-the-box thinking" to achieve outstanding results for her injured clients. That Kate is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney is a testament to her skills, experience and commitment to excellence.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Jonathan Sampson 
 173 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was referred to KGG law by a friend and could not have asked for better legal representation. They walked me through every step of the process after my accident and began every call with “ how are you feeling” which was just one example of how much they care about their clients. They handled my case very efficiently, professionally and courteously. My attorney Kate Carballo was a rock star! So clearly experienced, she consistently made me feel at ease with the process. Highly recommend
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Vinnie Kung 
 176 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with the team at KGG Law. While it was a traumatic time for our family, they made it very easy for us and explained all of our options. They even performed due diligence to make sure that after our settlement, there would be no further issues which I think is even more important than the settlement itself. Thank you!

see all reviews

How Long After an Accident Can You File a Police Report in New York?

Why Trust Us?

Rockland County, New York

Bergen County, New Jersey