According to recently released reports, an estimated 5.9 million car accidents take place each year in the United States. Crashes are more common in the summer months simply because more people travel in warmer weather. The more vehicles there are on the roads, the more likely accidents are to occur. Winter weather is a common culprit in crashes as well. Still, these incidents happen all year long whether they’re the result of bad weather, carelessness, inadequate road maintenance, or other issues.
Several measures need to be taken after an automobile accident with seeking medical attention and potentially contacting an attorney being some of the most important. Of course, notifying your insurer after a crash is also crucial. When you’re speaking with your insurance provider, be sure to cover the following six essential factors.
1) Give Details About the Accident
When you’re reporting an accident to an insurance company, whether it’s your coverage provider or that of another driver, you’ll need to provide details of the accident. Those include the date, time, location, and vehicles involved. Tell the insurer, from your own perspective, how the accident happened. Include information about the damage to the vehicles that were involved and other property as well.
2) Provide Contact Information You’ll also need to provide contact information. That includes yours as well as that of other people who were involved in the accident. In addition to names, phone numbers, and email addresses, you’ll need to know the other drivers’ insurance companies. Be sure to gather those details at the accident scene so you’ll have them on hand when you speak to your coverage provider.
3) Avoid Volunteering Unnecessary Information
When reporting an accident to an insurance company, providing important details is essential. It’s best to avoid giving them too much information, though. Be concise with your details, and stick to the facts. Never volunteer non-essential information or say that the accident was your fault. Remember that anything you say can, and probably will, be held against you.
4) Provide Evidence
Taking pictures and videos of an accident scene and the resulting damage and injuries when possible is highly recommended. It gives victims visual evidence to back up their claims and can go a long way toward proving your case. You’ll need to forward those pictures and videos to the insurance company when you report the accident. In addition to those pieces of evidence, be sure to provide records of any medical attention you needed as a result of the accident.
5) Get the Police Report
Insurance companies generally request copies of police reports as well. As such, you’ll need to have one on hand to send them. You can obtain a copy of the police report by contacting your local DMV or the law enforcement agency that was on scene at the accident.
6) Act Quickly
Finally, be sure to act quickly when reporting an accident to an insurance company. Many coverage providers require policyholders to report accidents within 24 hours. Some allow as many as 30 days, but that varies from one provider to the next.
Successfully Filing a Claim After an Accident
Filing an accident claim with an insurance company can be a nerve-racking experience. Coverage providers tend to bombard claimants with countless questions and have been known to add trick questions to the mix. Any detail you inadvertently leave out or mistakenly volunteer could potentially interfere with your claim, and insurance companies often try to minimize their payouts or deny them altogether. Covering the points listed here and having an attorney on your side can greatly improve your chances of success when filing an insurance claim after a car accident.
