How to Report a Car Accident in Illinois: A Chicago Suburbs Guide

Under 625 ILCS 5/11-401 through 11-404, you must stop and report a motor vehicle accident if it results in injury to any person, death, or property damage exceeding $1,500 to any one person's property. The $1,500 threshold refers to the cost to repair or replace the damaged property — for vehicle damage, this is the repair estimate. If any driver involved does not have liability insurance, the reporting threshold drops to $500.

These thresholds are low enough that most accidents with visible damage will meet them. A single dented panel, cracked bumper, or deployed airbag will almost certainly exceed $1,500 in repair costs. When in doubt, report. There is no penalty for reporting an accident that turns out to fall below the threshold, but there are serious penalties for failing to report when required.

You are required to stop at the scene immediately. If someone is injured, call 911 first. Do not move vehicles unless they are blocking traffic and creating a safety hazard. Exchange information with the other driver — name, address, driver's license number, insurance company and policy number, and license plate number (625 ILCS 5/11-403). If you leave the scene of an accident involving injuries without providing this information, you have committed a felony.

For any accident involving injuries or death, call 911 immediately. Dispatchers will send police, fire, and EMS as needed. In the Chicago suburbs, 911 routes to the appropriate local emergency services based on your location.

For property-damage-only accidents above the reporting threshold, you can call the non-emergency number for the police department in the municipality where the crash occurred. In unincorporated Cook County, call the Cook County Sheriff's Office at (708) 865-4896. In DuPage County unincorporated areas, contact the DuPage County Sheriff at (630) 407-2400. For accidents on interstate highways and state routes, call Illinois State Police at (847) 294-4400 (District Chicago).

When you call, provide the exact location (cross streets or highway mile marker), the number of vehicles involved, whether anyone is injured, and whether any vehicles are blocking traffic. Stay on the line until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

When the responding officer arrives, they will assess the scene, check for injuries, and begin their investigation. The officer will interview drivers and witnesses, examine vehicle damage and the crash scene, check for traffic violations, and determine whether to issue citations.

The officer completes an Illinois Traffic Crash Report (Form SR 1050). This report is submitted electronically to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The SR 1050 includes a diagram of the accident scene, the officer's narrative of what happened, driver and vehicle information, insurance details, injury assessments, and any citations issued. This is the official crash report that insurance companies and attorneys use to evaluate your claim.

You will receive a motorist exchange form at the scene with the other driver's information and the report number. Keep this form — you will need the report number to obtain a copy of the full crash report later. If you are transported to the hospital from the scene, ask a family member or friend to obtain this information for you.

Before August 2021, Illinois law required drivers to file a separate written report — the SR-1B Illinois Motorist Report — with the Illinois Department of Transportation within 10 days of a reportable accident, regardless of whether police responded. Public Act 102-0560, effective August 20, 2021, repealed this requirement for the general public.

You are no longer required to file any report with IDOT yourself. When police respond to your accident, the officer's SR 1050 crash report satisfies all reporting obligations. The only exception is state employees involved in a crash in a state vehicle, who must still file with IDOT's Bureau of Data Collection.

Many older legal resources and law firm websites still reference the SR-1B requirement as if it is current. It is not. If someone tells you to file an SR-1 form with IDOT, that requirement no longer applies to private motorists as of August 2021. The IDOT motorist report portal at motoristreport.illinois.gov still exists but is now used only by state employees.

In the Chicago suburbs, police generally respond to all reported crashes. However, during severe weather, major traffic events, or when resources are stretched thin, officers may not respond to minor property-damage-only accidents. Some departments may take a report over the phone or direct you to file a report at the station.

If police do not respond and your accident meets the reporting threshold (injury, death, or $1,500+ in damage), go to the nearest police station in the jurisdiction where the crash occurred and file a report in person. Bring the other driver's information, photos of the scene and damage, and any witness contact information. You can also call the department's non-emergency line and ask for instructions on how to file.

Even if your accident falls below the reporting threshold, consider filing a report anyway. A police report creates an official record that supports your insurance claim. Without one, the other driver may later deny the accident happened or dispute the details. Document everything yourself with photos, video, and written notes while the details are fresh.

Illinois imposes severe penalties for leaving the scene of an accident or failing to report. Leaving the scene of an accident that caused personal injury — without stopping to exchange information and render aid — is a Class 2 felony under 625 ILCS 5/11-401(b), punishable by 3 to 7 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. If the accident caused death, it is a Class 1 felony carrying 4 to 15 years in prison.

Failure to stop and exchange information at a property-damage accident is a Class A misdemeanor under 625 ILCS 5/11-402, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. The Illinois Secretary of State may also suspend your driver's license for failing to report a required accident.

Beyond criminal penalties, failing to report an accident can damage your personal injury claim. Insurance companies may argue that your failure to report suggests the accident was not serious or that you are not credible. A gap in reporting also gives the other driver time to build a different version of events. Report promptly, get a police report, and document everything.

Illinois is a mandatory insurance state. All drivers must carry minimum liability coverage. For 2026, Illinois increased the minimums to 30/60/25: $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. The previous minimums were 25/50/20.

When you report an accident and exchange information with the other driver, verify their insurance information — company name, policy number, and the insured's name. If the other driver does not have insurance or refuses to provide information, note their license plate number and vehicle description and report this to the police. Driving without insurance in Illinois is a misdemeanor that carries license and registration suspension.

Uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy protects you if you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Illinois requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage, though you can decline it in writing. If you were hit by an uninsured driver, your own UM/UIM coverage is often the only source of compensation for your injuries.

If you were in an accident in the Chicago suburbs and are not sure what to do next, get your free Injury Claim Check. You will answer a few quick questions about your crash and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Illinois's filing deadline for your claim, what your reporting obligations are, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Understanding your rights after a crash should not be stressful. Our Injury Claim Check is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to make an informed decision.