Winter Accidents in Omaha: What to Do When Police Can't Respond
You've just been in an accident. You're shaken up, maybe hurt, and you're waiting for the police to arrive. But here's something that catches a lot of Omaha and Council Bluffs drivers off guard, especially during winter storms: sometimes the police don't come at all.
When weather is bad and accidents are piling up across the metro, law enforcement has to prioritize. If no one appears seriously injured and the vehicles are drivable, your fender bender might not make the response list. It's frustrating, but it happens more often than you'd think.
Here's the good news: you don't need a police officer to create an official record of what happened. You can document everything yourself, and that documentation can be just as valuable when you're dealing with insurance companies and getting the medical care you need.
Why Documentation Matters So Much
Whether you feel injured right now or not, documenting your accident protects you down the road. Here's why this matters:
Insurance claims require proof. Your insurance company needs to know what happened, who was involved, and how the accident occurred. Without a police report, your own documentation becomes the official record.
Injuries don't always appear immediately. Whiplash, back pain, and headaches often show up days or even weeks after an accident. When you finally realize you're hurt and need treatment, you'll need proof that your injuries came from this specific accident.
Memories fade fast. What feels crystal clear in the moment gets fuzzy within hours. Write everything down while it's fresh, before stress and time blur the details.
The other driver's story might change. Someone who admits fault at the scene might tell their insurance company something completely different a week later. Your documentation locks in the facts.
Your Step-by-Step Documentation Guide
If police don't respond to your accident scene, here's exactly what you need to do:
Take photos of everything. We mean everything. Your phone is your best tool here. Photograph:
All vehicle damage from multiple angles
The overall accident scene, including street signs and landmarks
Road conditions (ice, snow, water, debris)
Traffic signals or stop signs
Skid marks or tire tracks
The other vehicle's license plate
The position of all vehicles involved
Take wide shots to show the whole scene, then close-ups of specific damage. More photos are better than too few. You can always delete extras later, but you can't go back and capture what you missed.
Get the other driver's information. Exchange and write down:
Full name and contact information
Insurance company and policy number
Driver's license number
License plate number
Vehicle make, model, and color
Take a photo of their insurance card and driver's license if they'll let you. It's faster and more accurate than trying to write everything down.
Collect witness information. If anyone saw what happened, get their contact information. Witnesses can be crucial if there's a dispute about fault later. Even if someone didn't see the actual impact, they might have seen important details about road conditions or how the vehicles were positioned afterward.
Write down your account immediately. While you're still at the scene or as soon as you get somewhere safe, write out exactly what happened:
What time did the accident occur?
What direction were you traveling?
What were the weather and road conditions?
What was the other driver doing?
Were there any traffic signals?
How fast were you going?
What did you see, hear, and feel?
Be factual and specific. "The other car ran the red light at the intersection of 72nd and Dodge" is more useful than "They weren't paying attention."
File your own accident report. In Nebraska, you're required to file a crash report with the Department of Motor Vehicles if the accident caused injury, death, or more than $1,500 in property damage. You have five days to do this. Don't skip this step just because police didn't come to the scene. You can find the forms on the Nebraska DMV website.
What to Do Next
Even if you feel fine right now, get checked out. This is crucial, and here's why: auto accident injuries are sneaky. The adrenaline and shock of the accident can mask pain. What feels like just being "shaken up" today can turn into serious neck pain, headaches, or back problems tomorrow.
Before you accept any insurance settlement or sign anything saying you're not injured, make sure you're actually okay. Once you settle, you can't go back and get coverage for injuries that appear later.
We offer same-day appointments because we know waiting isn't an option when you've been in an accident. Our thorough 10-point exam helps catch injuries that might not be obvious yet. And we work directly with insurance companies, so there's typically little to no out-of-pocket expense for you.
Don't Let the Lack of a Police Report Stop You
Not having a police report doesn't mean you're out of options. Your own documentation, combined with prompt medical assessment, gives you the protection you need.
If you've been in an accident, even if it seems minor and even if police didn't respond, give us a call. We're here to make sure you're truly okay and to guide you through what comes next. Because the last thing you need after an accident is to discover weeks later that you're hurt and you've already settled your claim.
Been in an accident? Call us today. We can usually see you the same day.