re: A 20 year old LSU student drunk driver hits my friend's car

But police don't have to issue any violations. I can see having police involved in accidents with serious injury/vehicle damage/dwi, but your average fender bender can be handled without police.

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But police don't have to issue any violations.

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They don't have to, but they most certainly will if it is clear that a violation occurred. Is there something wrong with holding people accountable? I had a relatively minor fender bender, the police issued the kid a violation for failure to provide proof of insurance as well as following too closely. Pretty cut and dry for his auto insurance to go ahead and pay the claim. The claims process can drag out over long periods of time due to the investigation of the accident. Why not make it as simple as possible?

The police report is an offical record of what occured whether citations are issued or not. If I just trust a random stranger that hits me, I may have to take legal action if he later denies that he was even involved. Or I could file a claim with my insurance company and then they can go through subrogation to get the money back.

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Would you have done the same thing?

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On the fence.

Part of me says yes, but the other part says no because I doubt they learn a lesson by allowing them to get off scot-free other than damages.

I've been rear ended twice. One was a drunk tennis mom. Didn't called the cops for either wrecks. The people just gave me their insurance information and the companies fixed the damage.

Does the insurance even cover an accident without a police report?

As soon as he pulled away from the scene, it became a he said you said claim. Too, showing/exchanging insurance cards/info proves nothing. Happens all the time: a driver gets insurance coverage for one reason or another...a brake tag, new plates, renewed drivers license...pays the initial premium, gets the card. And never pays another dollar in premium. His coverage gets cancelled but he keeps the now worthless card. In the good old days, this would have been ok. In today's FRICK YOU world, sorry, I trust nobody. I have a hard time believing that that one insurance company in Texas paid for damages without a police report. That never happens.

actually happened to a friend of mine

he was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and BAM

drunk driver blew the stop sign and smashed into us.

turns out, my friends father knew the drunk and worked with him!!! small frikkin world

they worked it out, no cops

I had a guy hit me once (not drunk), and pleaded to handle it without involving the cops. I was super nervous for what weeks wondering if he'd come through after getting an estimate. Luckily he did, but after that, I realized how easily he could have just ducked my calls. I'd always call the cops and get a report.

Now, I've also been hit and had the guys insurance tell me that they wouldn't cover unless he took responsibility even though I had a police report. Had to threaten suit to get that moving. But at least I had a police report and it wasn't a my word against his deal.

Las Vegas just started responding to property damage only accidents, and they only take full traffic reports if there is injury.
LINK

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ow has LVMPD changed its collision response? Officers have begun to respond to property damage only (PDO) collisions as of January 1, 2016.

What types of collisions will LVMPD respond to? 

Traffic collisions with injuries or fatalities;Property damage only collisions on a public road:A driver under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or other substances;A driver who doesn't have a driver's license, proof of insurance or registration;A hit and run;A vehicle disabled on the roadway as a result of an collision; andAn uncooperative driver (i.e. will not exchange information) or any other disturbance meriting a police response.


What do I do if I’m involved in a collision? 
Call 9-1-1 and they will assess the need for assistance.  In cases where there is property damage only, involved parties are asked to call 3-1-1.  When an officer arrives to a property damage only collision, they may take the following actions:   

Name Exchange - LVMPD Traffic Officers and/or patrol officers can facilitate a name exchange for any collision where there are no injuries reported and/or seen.
PDO Report Response - LVMPD Traffic Officers have the option of taking a PDO Report through Brazos which is a redacted form that does not include all of the information gathered in a full collision report.  Traffic Officers can take these reports whenever there is information in a collision which allows Traffic Officers to take enforcement action (citation or arrest).
NHP5 Collision Report Response - LVMPD Traffic Officers will take a full NHP5 Collision Report whenever they encounter a collision where occupants complain of injury or officers see visible injuries.


Citizens can still initiate their own name exchange if both parties are willing and do not want to wait for a police response.

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LAPD won't respond to noon injury accidents either unless otherwise noted here LINK