Roadwise States New Hampshire Driving lessons Crash procedures and reporting New Hampshire driving lesson · Accidents and Financial Responsibility
Crash procedures and reporting A 3-minute lesson from the New Hampshire course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Accidents and Financial Responsibility
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 39 NH reports more than 30,000 crashes a year. Driving defensively helps you avoid many of them, but if you're in one, the law says what you must do at the scene and when you must file a report.
Defensive driving Watching for illegal acts and driving errors by others and adjusting your driving to avoid a crash.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ If a crash occurs: Stop If possible, move the vehicle off the road so traffic isn't blocked Call 911 if there are injuries Give aid to the injured, but don't move them unless necessary; be sure an ambulance was called Get names and addresses of any witnesses or injured persons Handbook p. 39 ↗ Get from everyone involved: Names and addresses Driver's license numbers and state(s) of issue License plate numbers and state of issue of all vehicles Make, model and year of all vehicles Insurance information, if applicable Handbook p. 39 ↗ Know the rule
File an accident report with the DMV within 15 days if there is a fatality, an injury, or combined property damage over $1,000.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Know the rule
If a police officer investigates the crash, the officer's report satisfies the requirement; you may still file your own.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Know the rule
If the driver is injured and can't complete the report, a passenger or the vehicle's owner may file it.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Know the rule
If you're not sure the combined damage is over $1,000, file an Operator Report to be sure you comply.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Put it into practice
You back into a parked car in a lot; no police come and nobody is hurt. The body shop estimates $1,200 total for both cars. That's over $1,000, so file a DSMV 400 with the DMV within 15 days.
A useful reminder 15 days, $1,000: the two numbers of NH crash reporting.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What is the first thing a driver should do if a crash occurs? Drive to the nearest police station Stop Take photos before doing anything else Exchange insurance information immediately Answer: Stop
Stopping is the first required action after a crash.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ What information should be exchanged with all people involved in a crash? Only phone numbers and insurer names Only license plate numbers Only the at-fault driver's name Names, addresses, and driver's license numbers Answer: Names, addresses, and driver's license numbers
Drivers should gather names, addresses, license numbers, and insurance information from those involved.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Within how many days must an accident report be filed with the DMV if there is a fatality or injury? 30 days 15 days 60 days 5 days Answer: 15 days
An accident report must be filed within 15 days if there's a fatality, injury, or major property damage.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ What combined property damage amount triggers the requirement to file an accident report? More than $250 More than $2,500 More than $500 More than $1,000 Answer: More than $1,000
A report is required if combined property damage totals more than $1,000.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ If a police officer investigates a crash and files a report, does the driver still need to file a separate DMV report? Only if injuries occurred, regardless of the police report Yes, every driver must always file one separately No, the police report satisfies the requirement Only the at-fault driver needs to file one Answer: No, the police report satisfies the requirement
A police-filed report satisfies the reporting requirement, though a driver may still choose to file one.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ What is the name of the form used to file an Operator Accident Report in New Hampshire? DSMV 400 DSMV 22 DSMV 100 DSMV 360 Answer: DSMV 400
The Operator Accident Report form is DSMV 400.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Previous lesson Space to the sides and behind Next lesson Insurance and financial responsibility More in Accidents and Financial Responsibility About the source Roadwise’s New Hampshire course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 39. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check New Hampshire’s DMV. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.