How to Fill Out a Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report Form
It can be difficult for victims to determine the right steps to take after being injured in a car accident. However, there are certain actions that must be taken. If you suffered a car accident injury in Massachusetts, you must file a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
To fill out your report, you must answer ten sections of questions pertaining to the circumstances of your accident. The report can take a long time to complete. However, you only have five days from the date of your crash to submit your report. Accordingly, you should begin working on your report as soon as possible.
If you were injured because of a car accident in Massachusetts, get help reporting your crash. Contact our experienced injury lawyers in Massachusetts by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.
How to Fill Out a Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report Form
The Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report form is comprised of multiple, lengthy sections. In some cases, it may take time for victims to retrieve the required information. Understanding the contents of each section will allow you to understand how long it will take to complete the form, and when you should begin the process in order to comply with the five-day deadline. Victims are required to produce the following information on their accident report:
Section A – Crash Location
Section A of the accident report will ask for general information regarding the circumstances of your accident. You should be prepared to present the following information in Section A of your report:
- The date of the crash
- The city and town where the crash occurred
- The number of vehicles involved in the crash
It is important to use official names of all locations, landmarks, and streets when filling out your report. You must provide enough location for authorities to locate the crash to a specific place, not just a roadway. Our Boston car accident lawyers can help ensure you fill out your form with the required specificity.
Section B – Vehicle You Were Driving
Section B of the Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report form will require you to provide information regarding the vehicle you were driving. Furthermore, you must include a great deal of detailed information regarding the crash, your vehicle, your license information, and your insurance information. You should have the following information available when filling out Section B of your report:
- Number of occupants in the car at the time of the accident
- Estimated amount of vehicle damage you incurred
- Driver’s license number
- Insurance information
- Vehicle registration information
- The object or vehicle that was collided with
You should take your time when filling out Section B to ensure you do not enter incorrect information. Accordingly, you should begin filling out your accident report as soon as possible in order to submit it accurately and on-time.
Section C – You and Your Passengers
Next, you will be asked to provide information regarding what happened to you and your passengers during a crash. You will be asked to provide the seating position of every party during the accident. Additionally, you must note whether any party was trapped by the vehicle or ejected from the vehicle because of the crash.
Furthermore, you must detail the injuries suffered by each party as well as each party’s name and address. It is crucial to fill this section correctly. Our Massachusetts car accident lawyers can help you avoid mistakes when filling out this section, so you may file your crash report in timely manner.
Section D – Other Vehicle Involved in the Crash
You will also be asked to provide data regarding the other vehicles involved in the crash when filling out your accident report. In Section D of your accident report, you must include contact information, license information, insurance information, and vehicle registration information for other drivers involved in your accident.
Therefore, you should always retrieve contact information for other drivers in the aftermath of a car accident. This information can assist you greatly when filling out your Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report form.
Section E – Non-Motorist(s) Involved
Furthermore, you must list contact information for any non-motorists affected by the accident. You also must state what the non-motorist was doing at the time of the crash. For example, the non-motorist may have been walking, crossing an intersection, or performing construction work when the accident occurred. The form also asks whether the affected bystander was wearing safety equipment when they were involved in the crash.
Section F- Crash Conditions
You must also list the crash conditions under Section F of your accident report. The crash conditions will indicate circumstances surrounding the crash such as light, weather, road surface quality, and the trafficway description. Accordingly, victims should write down their own personal recollection of a crash as soon as possible after an accident. Having the details of the crash readily available will help you fill out your accident report quickly and correctly.
Section G – Crash Diagram
In Section G, you will be asked to draw a diagram of your crash. Diagramming a crash can be difficult. There are certain details that must be included in your diagram. You can contact our experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers if you need assistance diagramming your crash.
Section H – Witness Information
As you near the end of your accident report, you will have to list contact information for any witnesses to your crash in Section H. Witnesses may help explain the events before, during, and after an accident. Obtaining contact information for any witnesses to your accident in the aftermath of the crash will help you fill out this section on time.
Section I – Non-Vehicle Property Damage
You will be required to list the owners of any non-vehicles that were damages because of your crash in Section I. Additionally, you must describe the property and the damage that occurred.
Section J – Description of What Happened
Lastly, you will be asked to describe what happened to you during a crash. You should fill out this section with detail and include all the events leading up to and after the crash. This description does not need to be long, but it should indicate why your accident occurred.
When Do You Have to Fill Out a Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report Form?
According to Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 90 § 26, injured drivers have to fill out a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report form and file it with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles within five days if they are involved in an accident that leads to either of the following:
- An injury or death
- Property damage that exceeds $1,000
After filling out your report, you have to send a copy to the police department that has jurisdiction where your crash occurred. You can contact our experienced Malden car accident lawyers for support and guidance when completing out your report.
If You Were Injured Because of a Car Accident in Massachusetts, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of a car accident in Massachusetts, seek assistance from our experienced Salem car accident lawyers by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.