How to Report a Car Accident in Maryland

Knowing exactly what to do in the minutes, hours, and days after a collision can protect your health, your finances, and any future injury claim. If you’ve been involved in a crash in Charm City or anywhere in the state, this guide walks you through everything you need to know about Maryland’s reporting requirements — and how our Baltimore car accident attorneys can help you take the next steps. For broader information about our firm and the full range of injury cases we handle, you can also visit our home page.

When You Are Legally Required to Report a Car Accident in Maryland

Maryland law does not require you to call the police for every fender-bender. Under Maryland Transportation Code § 20-104 and § 20-107, you are required to report a crash when any of the following occur:

• Bodily injury or death results from the accident
• A driver appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• A driver does not have a valid driver’s license
• A driver does not have valid insurance
• A vehicle cannot be safely moved off the roadway
• The accident involves a hit-and-run or a driver who refuses to exchange information

Even when reporting isn’t legally required, it’s almost always smart to call the police anyway. A police report creates an official record of the crash, which is critical if injuries appear later or if the other driver disputes liability.

Step 1: Call 911 and Stay at the Scene

Maryland law makes it a crime to leave the scene of an accident involving injury, death, or property damage. As soon as it’s safe:

1. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries
2. Call 911 to request police and medical assistance
3. Move vehicles out of traffic only if it’s safe and there are no injuries
4. Turn on hazard lights and set out flares or triangles if you have them

Wait at the scene until police arrive and release you.

Step 2: Exchange Information With the Other Driver

Maryland requires all drivers involved in a crash to exchange:

• Full name and address
• Driver’s license number
• Vehicle registration
• Insurance company name and policy number
• License plate number

The Maryland MVA recommends keeping a printed Collision Information Exchange Form in your glove box for this purpose.

Step 3: Document the Scene

Before vehicles are moved or witnesses leave, gather as much evidence as you can:

• Photograph all vehicle damage from multiple angles
• Photograph the position of vehicles, skid marks, traffic signs, and road conditions
• Get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses
• Note the responding officer’s name, badge number, and report number
• Write down the date, time, and exact location of the crash

This documentation often makes or breaks a personal injury claim later on.

Step 4: File a Report With the Maryland MVA (When Required)

If your accident involves injury or death and a police officer did not investigate the scene, you have 15 days from the date of the crash to file a written report with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Your report must include:

• Your insurance company’s name and address
• Your policy number
• Your local insurance agent’s name and address
• Proof of liability insurance

If a Maryland police officer investigated the crash and filed a report with the Department of State Police, you generally do not need to file separately with the MVA — the officer’s report satisfies the requirement.

Failure to file when required can result in suspension of your driver’s license, suspension of your vehicle registration, fines, and even possible jail time.

Step 5: Notify Your Insurance Company

Even though Maryland law doesn’t set a specific deadline for notifying your own insurer, every insurance policy requires “prompt” or “reasonable” notice. Call your insurance company as soon as possible after the crash. Stick to the facts and avoid speculating about fault.

Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Maryland is one of only a handful of states that follows the strict rule of contributory negligence, which means if you’re found even 1% at fault, you may be barred from recovering compensation. Insurance adjusters know this and may try to get you to admit partial blame.

Step 6: Obtain a Copy of Your Police Report

If your accident happened in Baltimore City, you can request your crash report through the Baltimore Police Department. Reports from January 1, 2011 forward are available online through LexisNexis at policereports.lexisnexis.com. For older reports, you can email the BPD’s Community Correspondence Unit.

For accidents handled by Maryland State Police, you can request a copy from the Maryland State Police Central Records Division for a $4 search fee, payable by check or money order. Reports are typically available 10 days after the crash.

For accidents in Baltimore County, requests go to the Baltimore County Police Department’s Information and Records Management Unit at 700 East Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286-5501, with a $15 fee per report (free for crime victims).

Step 7: Seek Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine

Many serious injuries — concussions, soft tissue damage, internal bleeding, whiplash — don’t show symptoms until hours or days later. Get evaluated by a doctor or emergency room as soon as possible. Medical records created right after a crash are some of the strongest evidence linking your injuries to the accident.

What Happens If You Don’t Report a Car Accident in Maryland?

Failing to report a reportable accident can lead to serious consequences:

• Driver’s license suspension or revocation by the MVA
• Vehicle registration suspension for any vehicle you own
• Fines and possible jail time for leaving the scene of an injury accident
• Denial of insurance coverage for the crash
• Loss of your right to sue the at-fault driver in many cases

The MVA has the authority to suspend your license for any vehicle you own — not just the one involved in the crash.

How a Baltimore Car Accident Attorney Can Help

Reporting the accident is just the first step. Building a successful injury claim under Maryland’s strict contributory negligence rule requires careful evidence gathering, expert review, and aggressive negotiation with insurance companies who are looking for any reason to deny your claim.

Attorney Big Al and the team at the Law Office of Richard Klein have decades of experience handling Maryland car accident claims. We’ll obtain your police report, deal with the insurance companies, calculate the full value of your damages, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

If you’ve been hurt in a crash anywhere in Maryland, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. There’s no fee unless we win your case.

Helpful Resources

• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration – If You’re Involved in an Accident — Official MVA guidance on post-accident requirements
• Maryland State Police Central Records Division — Where to obtain official Maryland crash reports