Illinois Accident Reporting Requirements

Illinois Car Accident Reporting Requirements Overview

Under 625 ILCS 5/11-407, you must report accidents causing injury or death to the nearest police department immediately. Illinois also uses administrative crash-reporting thresholds:

• All drivers are insured: Report if damage exceeds $1,500
• Any driver is uninsured: Report if damage exceeds $500

When You Must Report a Car Accident in Illinois

Call the police immediately if anyone is injured or killed. Stay at the scene until officers arrive and clear you to leave. If no officer is on scene, you must still report the crash to the nearest police department as soon as possible.

Minor crashes with no injuries and little property damage don’t generally require police reports. Make sure you exchange information with the other driver and notify your insurer.

How Long Do You Have to Report a Car Accident in Illinois

You no longer have to file a written crash report with IDOT. But if a crash causes injury or death and no officer is on the scene, you must report it to the nearest police department as soon as possible under 625 ILCS 5/11-407. Police departments (not drivers) then complete the official crash report and submit it to IDOT within 10 days.

Don’t forget to report your crash to your insurer. Most insurance policies require you to notify them within 24 hours, regardless of damage amounts.

How to File a Car Crash Report in Illinois

If police attended the crash scene, they will complete the Illinois Traffic Crash Report for you. If no officer is present and the crash involves injury or death, contact the nearest police department immediately so they can take the report.

Recent legal changes mean that drivers no longer complete or mail a personal crash report to IDOT. The responding agency handles all state reporting requirements. Make sure you keep copies of any police reports for your records and for your insurance company.

Reporting to Law Enforcement and Police Agencies

Call the nearest police department if you’re in a municipality, or the county sheriff or Illinois State Police if you’re outside city limits. Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Peoria, and Rockford all have their own police departments that will respond to crashes within city boundaries.

When police respond to the scene, they file the official crash report, and you’ll receive an information exchange slip with a crash report number. Keep hold of the number, as you’ll need it when obtaining your police report.

Most agencies charge $5 to $6 per report and offer online request systems. You can request reports using the crash report number, date, and location. Processing times are about 10 business days for the Illinois State Police and slightly longer for the Chicago PD.

Consequences of Not Reporting a Car Accident in Illinois

Failing to report an injury or fatal crash to police can lead to criminal charges. For leaving the scene of an accident before police arrive, you could face a Class A misdemeanor for property damage crashes with up to one year in jail and $2,500 in fines. Leave the scene of an injury crash, and you could face Class 4 felony charges with one to three years in prison.