RTA Accident Reporting & Insurance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If you hit an unattended parked vehicle and the owner is not present, what should you do?
- Leave a note with your contact and insurance information on the vehicle (Correct answer)
- Drive away since no one is watching
- Call 911 and wait for police only if damage is severe
- Only report it if your vehicle is also damaged
Correct answer: Leave a note with your contact and insurance information on the vehicle
Leaving a note with your name, contact number, and insurance information on the other vehicle is both a legal obligation and the ethical course of action.
Question 2: What does 'collision coverage' pay for in an auto insurance policy?
- Injuries to the other driver
- Damage to your own vehicle from a collision, regardless of fault (Correct answer)
- Theft of your vehicle
- Damage caused by natural disasters
Correct answer: Damage to your own vehicle from a collision, regardless of fault
Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your own vehicle when it is damaged in a crash, regardless of who caused the accident.
Question 3: What is the legal consequence of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury without stopping?
- A minor traffic fine
- Hit-and-run charge, which is a criminal offense (Correct answer)
- Automatic license suspension for 30 days
- A written warning from police
Correct answer: Hit-and-run charge, which is a criminal offense
Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a criminal hit-and-run offense that can result in felony charges, jail time, and permanent license revocation.
Question 4: What is 'subrogation' in the context of auto insurance?
- A penalty for late premium payments
- The insurer's right to recover costs from the at-fault party after paying your claim (Correct answer)
- The cancellation of a policy due to fraud
- A discount for safe driving
Correct answer: The insurer's right to recover costs from the at-fault party after paying your claim
Subrogation is the legal process by which your insurance company recovers the money it paid on your behalf from the driver or insurer who was actually at fault.
Question 5: How long do you generally have to notify your insurance company after an accident?
- Within 30 days
- Immediately or as soon as reasonably possible (Correct answer)
- Within one year
- Only before your renewal date
Correct answer: Immediately or as soon as reasonably possible
Most insurance policies require prompt notification of an accident — 'immediately or as soon as reasonably possible' — to protect the insurer's ability to investigate and respond.
Question 6: Which type of auto insurance coverage pays for YOUR medical bills after an accident, regardless of fault?
- Bodily injury liability
- Comprehensive coverage
- Personal injury protection (PIP) (Correct answer)
- Property damage liability
Correct answer: Personal injury protection (PIP)
Personal injury protection (PIP), also called no-fault coverage, pays for your own medical expenses and sometimes lost wages regardless of who caused the accident.
Question 7: When must an accident be reported to the RTA or DMV in writing?
- Only when a pedestrian is involved
- When the accident results in death, injury, or property damage above the state threshold (Correct answer)
- Only for accidents on public highways
- Every accident must be reported in writing
Correct answer: When the accident results in death, injury, or property damage above the state threshold
Written accident reports to the DMV or RTA are required when the crash involves death, bodily injury, or property damage meeting or exceeding the state's minimum threshold.
RTA Accident Reporting & Insurance 2
If you hit an unattended parked vehicle and the owner is not present, what should you do?