How to File an Insurance Claim

With over 220 million vehicles in the United States currently, it’s highly probable that you will have a collision with at least one of them and have to file an auto insurance claim at some point. Whether your claim is for physical damage to your car, personal injuries, or both, your insurer will require proof of the loss before paying the claim. The items of proof that insurers typically use are your account of the accident, the other party’s account of the accident, witness accounts, the police report, and evidence at the scene. Learn more about the burden of proof and how to file a car insurance claim in the following seven-step guide.

1. Call the police. Use 9-1-1 if someone is seriously hurt; otherwise call your local police directly. You need the police report as proof for your car insurance claim.
2. Exchange information. For each party involved in the accident, get contact information, car insurance details, and license plate numbers. Make sure you have phone numbers for all drivers and passengers at the scene of the accident.
3. Find any witnesses. A witness can help your case in filing an auto insurance claim, so find anyone who saw the accident and get his/her contact information. If you are unable to talk to the witnesses, the police report should fill in the information for you.
4. Get in touch with your car insurer ASAP. If you are safe and certain that everyone else is safe as well, you can call your insurer directly from the scene of the collision to begin the accident claim process. On your insurance ID card, a claims number should be listed, and the number is usually available 24 hours a day. Even if another driver was at fault, you should still file an insurance claim with your own carrier.
5. Contact the other party’s insurer. If you were not at fault in the accident, you might want to contact the other party’s auto insurance company as well to notify them that you have chosen to pursue the claim through your own carrier. Let them know that you will want to be reimbursed for any expenses your insurance company will not pay.
6. Provide a statement to the other insurance company. Eventually, the other party’s insurer will call you for a statement regarding your car insurance claim. Be prepared for this phone call—write down what you will say beforehand, especially for physical injury claims. Don’t rely on your memory. The party who contacts you will be taping the statement you make, and if you’re inconsistent, it could hurt you in the event of a lawsuit.
7. Meet with the insurance adjuster. An auto insurance adjuster will meet with you to assess the damage to your car. The adjuster will provide an estimate on how much it will cost to repair or replace your vehicle. After the meeting, the automobile insurance company will write you a check for the amount of the settlement less any deductibles.