Because of the large number of vehicles on the road and the unpredictability of factors such as the weather and the behavior of other drivers, it is likely that you will suffer an accident or sustain damage to your vehicle at some point in your life. When this happens, you will need to know how to file an auto insurance claim. The thought of doing so can be daunting, especially if you have never done so before. Fortunately, the process is not as stressful or complex as it seems.
If you get in an accident, the first thing you should do is call the proper authorities while you are still at the scene of the accident. You should call 911 if anyone at the scene requires medical attention. If this is not the case, you will be able to bypass calling 911 and instead call the police to report the accident. If the police officers at the scene try to avoid taking down a report, you should insist on getting one. The police report is extremely important because it provides an independent, unbiased account of what happened, which will come in handy when you file your claim.
You should also exchange license plate numbers, contact information, and insurance information with the other party or parties. When you file your claim, you will need to have this information on hand. If any third-party witnesses were present, try to get their contact information as well. Third-party witnesses can come in handy if the other party's version of the accident conflicts with yours, because they will be able to provide an independent recollection of the accident.
Once you leave the site of the accident, the next step is to contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. You should file a claim with your carrier even if the other party was at fault. The representative who takes your call will walk you through the process, and they will be able to get in touch with the other party's carrier to figure out how the claim will be handled. It may also be wise to get in touch with the other party's carrier and inform them that you are filing a claim with your own carrier and will be seeking restitution for any claims that your carrier will not pay. Once you contact your carrier, an adjuster will come examine your car to determine the cost of repairs and whether or not the car qualifies as a total loss.
After you've filed a claim, you may get a call from the other party's carrier to ask for your version of events. The statement you give can be extremely important if the other party refuses to admit fault. You should talk about your statement with your carrier before you speak to anyone connected to the other party, and write down what you will say beforehand to ensure that your statement remains consistent in the event that your claim goes to trial.
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