The last time i was in Daytona, Bill France, Sr. was still running Nascar.
It has happened in Illinois too. Itās āImproper lane usageā.
Someone had a brake issue and pulled off the road. Got a ticket for that. I guess they want you to just stop in the middle of the highway if there is no shoulder.
Hesitant as I am to interrup a scholarly discussion on deer carcases, NASCAR, Southern States, etc.
- Unless theyāre actually present the Police donāt determine the facts.
- Regardless, if they are willing, a Police Report is always a good statement of the facts.
- The police are NOT the final arbitor of the facts but they can supply meaninful evidence.
Bottom Line
- Call the police to report it, if only to get it on the record.
- Demand proof of LIcense, Title and Insurance.
- If the Offending Party (OP) is unable or unwilling to provide #2 refer to #1
And remember that your insurance company is on your side, if only to minimize the amount that they have to pay,
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Depends on the state. Each state has their own laws on traffic accidents.
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Good luck gettin the vin. Hard enough in day light with a magnifying glass, but at night shaking . . .
Wouldnāt it be on the vehicles registration documents. Cell phones have cameras. Iāve used it many times to read something. Take pic, then expand photo.
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Must do? Thatās a pretty strong statement. The only thing I must do is keep breathing, eat, and poop. And depending on the accident I may have already taken care of the last item.
What you should do is follow the requirements of the state you are in.
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There is often a VIN plaque in the lower corner of the windshield on the drivers side. Just take a photo with your phone. You should also share drivers license and registration with the other driver. As @MikeInNH said, get a picture of both.
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And also on the drivers door jamb. Itās easier to photo without having angled glass to reflect things.
You clearly have never been hit by an off duty drunk police officer driving his own vehicle.
The only time NOT to file a police report is when you bump into something like a tree and the only damage is minor damage to your vehicle. In that situation, the police may (depending on the police district) show up with a tow truck that you donāt need, but the vehicle will be towed anyway.
But if any accident involves another vehicle, even if it is very minor and in a private parking lot, get a police report. My sister got rear ended by a drunk once, no visible damage to either vehicle, just a low speed bump. She did not call the police but did exchange info with the other driver. Later that night, the drunk was involved in a major hit and run accident, the other drive ran but he gave the police my sisters info so they came out and arrested her. Didnāt last long as it was clear that her unblemished car did not total another car that night.
My daughter had a similar situation. She bumped another car at a drive through. They exchanged info and reported the accident to her insurance. Almost two years later, he filed a claim for a totaled car and large hospital bills. The insurance company did not investigate because they had been notified of the accident and paid the claim without even calling my daughter, they just dropped her insurance suddenly.
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@keith - thanks for sharing - Do you think a Dashcam recordings might be an alternative?
Depends if you are guilty or innocent. If you have one it is evidence to both sides if you ever get to court.
??What is that?
It is NORTH Carolina. 
But I am told the folk there are very friendly.
Aaannnd that is the reason I live on the west coast of Florida!
We have reached our New York and New Jersey limits in the west 
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Sugar sand is very white, fine sand that is found on many Florida Gulf Coast beaches.
Not that brown gritty sand found on the northern Atlantic coast stuff.
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It is like quicksand only it is dry maybe some one can explain it better.
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As a liberal Democrat from the northeast iād feel as welcome on the west coast of Florida as a skunk at a garden party. 
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That is in your head, not the area.
My brother from another mother is originally from NJ. I suspect his politics are Dem but we donāt talk about it so I donāt know nor careā¦
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I would suggest you get a photo of the other driver alsoā¦ You do not want the other driver claiming their car was stolen and the person who had the accident was not themā¦ And be sure to photograph everything else. Your car, their car, all of their car, so they do not claim more damage later, the skid marks, location of skip marks. stop signs, foliage around signs, street light, if at night. Itās not like you are paying for film when you are photographing on your phoneā¦, You might even want to set you phone to video when you are talking the other driver, you might not get video but youāll get teh audioā¦
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