What If the Police Don’t Show Up After a Car Accident in New York City?
Your Rights After an NYC Crash Without a Police Report
A car accident in New York City can flip your day upside down in seconds – whether it happens on the FDR Drive, the BQE, the Cross Bronx Expressway, Queens Boulevard, or a neighborhood street in Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island.
Most New Yorkers do what they’ve always been told:
Call 911 and wait for the police to arrive.
Did I ruin my case by leaving without a report?
No, you did not ruin your case. You still have rights. You can still make an insurance claim. You can still file a lawsuit. You can still win compensation with the help of an experienced NYC car accident lawyer.
At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, our New York City personal injury attorneys regularly represent people injured in crashes where:
- The police never showed up, or
- The report was never written, or
- The crash was treated as “too minor” to investigate
We know how to protect your rights in these cases.
- Free consultation
- No fee unless we win
- Local NYC car accident lawyers serving all five boroughs
1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462)
Please feel free to contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
Police not showing up does not mean your New York City car accident “doesn’t count” or that you are not hurt. Many car accident injuries in NYC – like whiplash, back injuries, and concussions – show up hours or days later. It simply means you must be proactive in documenting what happened – and a New York City car accident attorney can guide you.
What to Do If the Police Don’t Show Up After an Accident in NYC
If it becomes clear that the NYPD is not coming to the scene, you are not powerless. You can still build a strong case by following these steps.
1. Put Safety First
- Move vehicles out of traffic if it’s safe.
- Turn on hazard lights; use cones or triangles if you have them.
- Check yourself, your passengers, and the other driver for injuries.
If anyone is hurt or feels unwell, please call 911 and give a clear description of the injuries. Even if police don’t respond, EMS still may – and that medical documentation is crucial.
2. Call 911 (Even If You Think it’s “Minor”)
Calling 911 in New York City:
- Creates an official record that a crash occurred
- Can bring medical assistance to the scene
If the dispatcher says officers will not respond, write down:
- The time and date of the call
- Any reference or incident number provided
- What you were told about reporting the crash
3. Exchange Information with the Other Driver
This is absolutely critical in a NYC crash without a police report. Get:
- Full name
- Address
- Phone number and email
- Driver’s license number (take clear photos, front and back)
- License plate number (photo)
- Vehicle make, model, and color
- Insurance company and policy number (photo, front and back of the card)
Do not:
- Argue about fault
- Apologize or speculate about what happened
- Let the other driver talk you out of exchanging information
If they refuse, photograph their vehicle and plate, call 911 again, and tell your New York City car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
4. Collect Witness Information
In NYC, there are often people nearby who saw what happened:
- Pedestrians
- Other drivers
- Delivery drivers and bus operators
- Store employees or building security
Ask witnesses:
- What they saw
- For their name, phone number, and email
If they’re willing, get a brief:
- Written statement
- Audio recording, or
- Short video statement on your phone
In a car accident case without a police report in New York, witnesses can make all the difference.
5. Take Photos and Videos of the NYC Accident Scene
Your phone is now one of your best pieces of evidence.
Photograph and video:
- Positions of the vehicles before they’re moved (if safe)
- Damage to all vehicles (close-ups and wide shots)
- License plates
- Skid marks, debris, glass, fluids on the road
- Traffic lights, stop signs, lane markings, crosswalks
- Road conditions (potholes, standing water, ice, construction)
- Weather and lighting conditions
- Property damage (fences, guardrails, parked cars, storefronts)
- Visible injuries (bruising, swelling, cuts)
Take more than you think you need – you can delete later, but you can’t recreate the scene of an NYC crash once it’s cleared.
6. Write Down Key Details While They’re Fresh
Use your phone notes or paper to record:
- Date and exact time of the crash
- Borough, intersection, and nearest address or landmark
- Direction of travel of each vehicle
- A step-by-step description of how the collision happened
- Statements the other driver made (e.g., “I didn’t see the light,” “I was on my phone”)
- Any unusual driving behavior (speeding, tailgating, phone use, running a red light)
These details can be valuable evidence for your NYC car accident attorney, especially if the police never arrived.
7. Seek Medical Attention Promptly
Even if you feel okay at the scene, you should get evaluated as soon as you can:
- Go to an ER, urgent care, or your primary doctor
- Tell them you were in a New York City car accident
- Report all symptoms, even if “minor”: stiffness, headache, dizziness, nausea, numbness, etc.
Many serious injuries, including whiplash, back injuries, and concussions, do not appear immediately. Prompt treatment protects your health and strengthens your legal case.
8. File a Report Yourself (Precinct & MV-104)
If the NYPD never came to the scene, you can usually:
- File a report at the local NYPD precinct where the accident occurred
- File Form MV-104 with the New York DMV (required within 10 days if there are injuries or more than $1,000 in damage)
These reports:
- Create a paper trail for your NYC car accident
- Confirm the date, time, and location
- Help satisfy legal and insurance requirements
An experienced New York City car accident lawyer can assist you in completing these forms accurately and on time.
9. Contact a New York City Car Accident Lawyer
When there is no police report for a car accident in NYC, insurance companies see an opportunity to:
- Question your version of events
- Blame you for causing the crash
- Claim your injuries are unrelated or exaggerated
- Deny or lowball your claim
At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, our NYC car accident attorneys will:
- Review your photos, notes, and evidence
- Help file MV-104 and any necessary NYPD reports
- Request and preserve traffic and surveillance camera footage
- Track down and interview witnesses
- Coordinate your medical documentation and proof of lost wages
- Handle all communication with insurance companies
- Build a strong, evidence-driven case for maximum compensation
Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) for a free consultation.
Please don’t worry about a fee unless we win your case.
At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, we routinely win NYC car accident cases without police reports.
FAQ: NYC Car Accident with No Police Response
Do I still have a case if the NYPD never came?
Yes. Many strong New York City car accident cases involve no police response. What matters is the evidence.
Will insurance deny my claim because there’s no police report?
They might try, but that doesn’t mean they win. We respond with:
- Scene photos and videos
- Witness statements
- Medical records and repair estimates
- 911 logs and MV-104
Can I file an insurance claim in NYC without a police report?
Yes. You can absolutely file a claim after a New York City car accident without a police report. The insurer will rely more heavily on your documentation.
Can I be sued or sue someone else without a police report?
Yes and yes. A police report does not control whether someone can bring a lawsuit. Courts look at evidence, not just NYPD paperwork.
What if injuries didn’t show up until days later?
This is extremely common. If symptoms appear later:
- Seek medical care immediately.
- Tell your provider you were in a motor vehicle accident in NYC.
- Call an NYC car accident attorney to protect your claim.
Why Choose Greenstein & Pittari, LLP for Your NYC Car Accident?
- Focused exclusively on personal injury law
- Top-rated New York City car accident lawyers
- “No Fee Unless We Win” – Our Fee Guarantee
- Seven convenient New York locations:
Harlem · Bronx · Brooklyn · Queens · Staten Island · Yonkers · Nassau County - Local, community-based representation you can actually visit
- Bilingual services available
- Hundreds of positive reviews and testimonials
Our Motto: Don’t Be a Victim Twice.
If you were hurt in a New York City car accident – especially when the police never showed – we’re ready to fight for you.
Speak With a New York City Car Accident Lawyer Today
If the police didn’t show up after your car accident in New York City, it may feel like the system already failed you. But you still have the most essential thing: your right to protect yourself, your health, and your future.
At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP:
- We represent injury victims across all five NYC boroughs.
- We know how to win cases with or without a police report.
- We treat every client with the respect, compassion, and honesty we’d want for our own families.
Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462).
Please feel free to contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
Greenstein & Pittari, LLP – New York City’s Trusted Advocates for the Injured.