Auto Insurance Claim

What to do after a car accident?

When filing for an auto insurance claim in vehicle damage, you might be surprised at how serious the auto insurance company is in requesting for information. The nitty-gritty details always come into play; some even go through a painstaking investigation process to determine the proper amount of coverage they will need to pay.


The general process for vehicle damage claim involves only four steps.

  1. First you file for the claim;
  2. Second, the adjuster inspects the damage and comes up with an estimate of repair costs;
  3. Third, the auto insurance company sends you a check;
  4. and Fourth, you use the insurance money to pay for the repairs of your vehicle. Sounds fairly simple? Wrong.

Having an auto insurance policy will not alone guarantee you a hefty check from your insurance company after an accident. These establishments also need some kind of evidence – some proof that you have not intentionally crashed your vehicle into someone else’s before they send you that check in the mail.

Now the elements of proof always weigh the most part in making such claims. Evaluations can be based on what you tell the insurance company, what the other party tells them, the validity of your police report, the testimony of your witnesses and finally, the physical damage on the scene.


Thus when an accident happens, it is vital that you remember to do the following things lest you be denied of greater insurance coverage:


  1. Call the police.
    After you have made sure that there are no life threatening injuries, call the police (and not 911) so that a police report can be drawn on the incident. All insurance companies will base initial findings on the police report.
  2. Request for Vehicle and Driver information from the other party.
    This should include the vehicle license plate number, auto insurance information and personal phone numbers. If there are certain pertinent information not found in the insurance ID, do not hesitate to ask for it.
  3. Search for witnesses.
    Have a look beyond the accident scene, at the surrounding areas, for people who saw what happened and are willing to relate what they saw. Their testimonies will be a valuable source of information.
  4. Contact your auto insurance company immediately.
    Most insurance companies have a 24-hour call service that will guide you through the process. Assuming you have a mobile phone with you, use it to call your insurance company and talk to any available representative. You can find the phone number information on your insurance ID.
  5. Prepare to get a call from the other party's insurance company.
    In most cases, the other party’s auto insurance company will likely want to hear your version of the story. Remember exactly what you say. If possible, take down notes. In case of a further lawsuit, your statements need to be consistent.

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