What to Do If the Injured Party Refuses to Sign and the Traffic Police Keep Impounding the Vehicle?
2 Answers
Solution for the traffic police keeping the vehicle impounded due to the injured party refusing to sign: After the vehicle is impounded, the traffic police department will issue an accident liability determination report once they obtain the vehicle inspection report and clarify the cause of the accident. If the other party refuses to sign at this point, it will not affect the retrieval of the vehicle. The owner only needs to retrieve the vehicle within a certain period after the accident liability determination report is issued. According to regulations, for the purpose of collecting evidence, the traffic management department of the public security authority may impound the accident vehicle and the motor vehicle driving license and issue an administrative compulsory measure certificate. The ultimate purpose of collecting evidence is to determine the cause of the accident to better assign responsibility between the parties. Therefore, once the cause of the accident is determined, the traffic police department no longer has the legal right to continue impounding the vehicle and should release the impoundment and return the vehicle.
I have personally experienced a similar situation. After that accident, the injured party refused to sign the liability statement, and the traffic police kept impounding my car for investigation purposes. It was almost a month without any release. That period was truly anxiety-inducing—without the car, even commuting to work became difficult. I understand the injured party might have been afraid that signing would lead to unclear liability determination affecting compensation, or they might have had emotional issues. At the time, I proactively reached out to the injured party, calmly explained the accident process, provided evidence, and even involved an insurance agent to help mediate. Additionally, I submitted a written appeal to the traffic police department, bringing witness testimonies and dashcam footage to prove the other party’s liability. If communication proves ineffective, I recommend consulting a professional lawyer for assistance—they can handle administrative appeals or litigation to compel the police to release the car. Remember to keep all call records and evidence, and avoid emotional reactions to prevent escalation. Prolonged vehicle impoundment may also affect insurance claims, so act quickly to minimize losses.
