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Comment by florean | Hacker News Reader

> You're technically required to report accidents to the police when they happen, are you not?

No, you are not. Unless there is an injury or death, you just exchange information and pay the other party or let insurance figure it out. "You must call the police or the CHP if the accident caused a death or injury." http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Public/Pamphlets/AutoAccident.aspx#... In WA, you also have to report if there was over $1k in damage. But it is obviously easy to estimate it is under that while at the scene of the accident. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.52.030 Most states are the same. If there wasn't an injury and it isn't impeding traffic, the police don't care.

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I'd be surprised if an insurance company would determine fault without a police report.

Fair enough on minimal accidents. As a very young driver (< 6 months experience - i was reading a paper map propped up on the steering wheel as I was waiting for a light/coasting to a stop; bad idea) many years ago I did have a very minimal accident (low speed bumper to bumper), with no visible damage, but I insisted we not involve the police/insurance and agreed I'd pay for everything. That cost me $800 bucks (which was more than a paycheck for me at the time, had to post date a check to her), because I think the lady I bumped into got had by a mechanic.

> I'd be surprised if an insurance company would determine fault without a police report.

You haven't had to deal with an insurance company. I've dealt with at least five claims personally. None had a police report. A couple were well over 2k. It would be very easy for a company with Uber's resources to avoid an official report outside a regulatory requirement. If they paid whatever it cost for any driverless accident that didn't involve an injury, there would be no insurance claims, let alone police reports.

I've had too many problems with other drivers and accidents where they lie, bend the truth, whatever. Dash cams in all of our cars, and I always call the police for every accident to get an accident report.

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