H. B. 4592
(By Delegate Campbell)
[Introduced February 18, 2008; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation then the
Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §17C-4-7 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to motor vehicle accident reports.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §17C-4-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4. ACCIDENTS.
§
17C-4-7. Written reports of accidents.
(a) Every law-enforcement officer who, in the regular course
of duty, investigates a motor vehicle accident occurring on the
public highways of this state resulting in bodily injury to or
death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent
of five hundred dollars or more shall, either at the time of and at
the scene of the accident or thereafter by interviewing
participants or witnesses, within twenty-four hours after
completing such investigation, forward a written report of such accident to the division. The division shall prepare a form for
such accident report and, after approval of such form by the
commissioner, the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police
and the Commissioner of Highways, shall supply copies of such form
to police departments, sheriffs and other appropriate
law-enforcement agencies. Every accident report required under the
provisions of this section shall be made on such form.
(b) Additionally, any person involved in a motor vehicle
accident shall at the scene of the accident have free access to
basic information from the report in order to file a claim with
their insurance company. Basic information shall include:
(1) The name and address of each driver involved in the
accident;
(2) Make, model and year of each vehicle involved in the
accident;
(3) Insurance information for each driver involved in the
accident including company name, policy number and contact
information for the insurance company;
(4) Location of the accident;
(5) Time and date of accident;
(6) Contact information for the police officer who was present
at the scene of the accident.
(c) This above information shall be provided promptly at the
scene of the accident by the police officer who serviced the accident.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow persons involved in
motor vehicle accidents to receive pertinent information at no
charge in order to file a timely insurance claim.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.