We are available for video conferences or in person consultations.

How to Remove an Accident Report from Your Record

An officer making an accident report with a driver.

A driver who gets into a crash may wonder if they can remove an accident report and if there’s anything that they can do to keep their rates low. Now, points on your driver’s record can increase your insurance rates and make it difficult to get a new policy. However, many people don’t realize that the system set to determine your premiums is point-based as well.

Learn how to handle points on either record here and why it may not be as important you initially thought.

If you are involved in any type of crash, call an experienced Cincinnati, OH auto wreck attorney if you need help.

Can You Remove Points from an Accident from Your Insurance Record?

Unlike working with the BMV, your insurance provider will not jump at the chance to remove an accident report and the points that come with it, and there’s a good reason why. We’ll touch on the BMV point system in just a moment, but essentially, not every single action results in insurance points. For example, you could get a parking ticket, and that won’t result in insurance points.

You could even get a seat-belt ticket, and it not show up as a point on your insurance record. Then there’s the factor that each policy and provider calculate the insurance points differently. Some don’t use them at all.

Basically, you shouldn’t count on being able to remove an accident report or points from your insurance provider’s information or accounts.

Should You Challenge Insurance Points?

The good news is that your points on your insurance don’t really matter. They use that as an internal metric on calculating how high your premium should be, and if it’s not fair, you can file a complaint or leave. The point in this instance is that your account with your insurance provider doesn’t mean that you’re a bad driver. They can assign points, let them drop off, or remove them entirely for absolutely no reason at all. It’s not worth your time trying to change the records of a private entity.

Usually, if you’re being overcharged for insurance, then you should find a new policy before you file for a new policy. However, you should take a look at your BMV report to see what you can have removed from that database.

Can You Remove Points from Your BMV Report?

Ohio uses a 12-point system in which if you get 12-points, you can have your license suspended. In that same vein, those points are reported to your insurance company and can impact your premiums and even your coverage.

However, you can mask points from your Ohio license through a course. A defensive or remedial driving course will help you fight the points on your license. Now the course doesn’t immediately remove points, but it somewhat masks them in your saying that you’ll do a better job to drive better and that you’re taking a class for it.

The only way to really have points removed is to fight and show that the points were inappropriately added to your license. For example, if you received a speeding ticket for five mph over which should be one or two points, then you see that they added seven points and a reckless driving charge, then that’s just incorrect.

To contest the points added onto your license, then you’ll need to get copies of all your tickets from the recent year or two and head to the BMV. At the BMV, you can show what you did receive tickets for and contest the other points that they can’t contribute to your driving record within the court system.

Does it Matter if You Have These Accidents on Record?

Yes, it does matter because points for anything that you don’t have a record for shouldn’t be on your license at all. But making the appropriate reports can also help to show what information is accurate and what isn’t. The result is that accurately recording your accidents with your insurance policy and following up with crash reports can help you contest points that shouldn’t appear on your license at all.

If you’re handling a crash at the same time, you should consider bringing an attorney onto the case for your part in the crash. You may be the victim but have had moving violations associated with the accident that could end up on your license.

Get Help With Your Latest Cincinnati Wreck with a Local Car Accident Attorney

If you’re worried about something that wasn’t your fault affecting your financial state for years, then get in touch with a local Cincinnati attorney. Young, Reverman, and Mazzei serves the Cincinnati area with a variety of claims and lawsuit case assistance. Often removing something from your record isn’t the issue. It’s having it declared as not your fault.

When getting help, contact our offices for support and legal guidance in clearing up any recent accident.

Jay A. Bolotin is a partner at the injury law firm of Young, Reverman & Bolotin. Serving the people of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, Jay dedicates his career to helping clients in the tri-state area obtain financial compensation after suffering serious injuries. He focuses his practice on cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, dog bites and animal attacks, and other types of personal injury incidents.

Years of Experience: More than 25 years
Registration Status:: Active
Bar Admissions: Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Cincinati Bar Association