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After an accident

How do I file an insurance claim after a car accident?

Identify which insurer should be notified, open the claim promptly, and keep the paperwork organised from the start. Most of the friction in a claim comes from gaps in documentation, not from arguments about the law.

See the stepsWhat affects my claim?

Short answer

The short version

Notify your own insurer first — nearly every policy requires it, often promptly, regardless of who was at fault. Which other insurer becomes involved depends on fault, on the coverages in play, and on whether your state uses a no-fault system.

  • Report to your own insurer within the time your policy requires
  • Have the accident details, the report number, and photos to hand
  • Get the claim number and the adjuster's name in writing
  • Send documents in a form you can prove you sent
  • Expect fault and coverage to be investigated, not assumed

Notice requirements come from your policy; whether a no-fault system applies comes from state law.

Which insurer are we talking about?

Your own policy
Almost always has to be notified. It may also be the policy that responds first, depending on your coverages.
The other driver's liability cover
Responds where they are found responsible and coverage applies.
No-fault or medical payments cover
In some states, and under some optional coverages, your own policy pays certain medical costs regardless of fault.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist
Your own coverage, where the other driver has none or not enough — if you carry it.

Filing the claim

  1. Work out who needs to be notified

    Start with your own insurer. Read the notice provision in your policy rather than relying on a general rule, because it is a contractual obligation and delay can cause problems independently of who caused the crash.

  2. Open the claim

    Most insurers accept claims by phone, app, or online. Give the date, time, location, vehicles and people involved, whether police attended, and the report number. Stick to what you know rather than speculating about cause.

  3. Record the claim details

    Write down the claim number, the adjuster's name and direct contact, and the date you reported it. You will use all of these repeatedly.

  4. Send what they ask for — and keep a copy

    Commonly requested: the accident report, photos, repair estimates, medical records and bills, proof of income loss, and a list of damaged property. Send by a route that leaves a record, and keep your own copy of everything.

  5. Document injuries as they develop

    Attend appointments, follow the treatment advice, and keep a dated note of symptoms and what they prevent you doing. Missed appointments and long gaps are routinely used to argue that an injury was not serious or was not caused by the crash.

  6. Keep communications organised

    One folder, one running log: date, who you spoke to, what was said, what was promised. Confirm anything important in writing afterwards, even briefly.

  7. Expect fault and coverage to be examined

    The insurer will review the report, statements, damage, and sometimes scene evidence before accepting responsibility. A disagreement here is common and is not the same as a final refusal.

  8. Follow up when it goes quiet

    If nothing is happening, put a dated written request for a status update to the adjuster, and escalate to a supervisor if needed. Your state's insurance department publishes consumer complaint routes if it stays stuck.

What to have ready

Most of a claim's friction disappears when these exist from the start.

If the claim stalls or is disputed

A claim can slow down for ordinary reasons — missing records, a fault investigation, an insurer waiting on the police report. It can also stall for no good reason. Ask in writing for the specific reason and what is outstanding. If a claim is denied, ask for the denial in writing with the policy language relied on. Every state has an insurance regulator that handles consumer complaints about claim handling.

Documentation that carries weight

  • The accident report

    The insurer's usual starting point.

  • Treatment records

    Diagnoses and clinical notes, not just bills.

  • Every cost

    Prescriptions, travel, rental, repairs, out-of-pocket items.

  • Photos

    Vehicles, scene, and visible injuries over time.

  • Written correspondence

    Letters, emails, and confirmations of calls.

  • A dated timeline

    Appointments, missed work, symptom changes.

Once the claim is open

Claim value assessment

Work through the factors that affect what a claim involves, and what is still missing from yours.

Start the assessment

Police report lookup

Still missing the accident report the insurer is asking for? We'll help you find it.

Get help with my report

Questions people also ask

Should I file with my insurer if the other driver was clearly at fault?

Usually yes. Your policy almost certainly requires notice of an accident regardless of fault, and failing to give it can create a separate problem with your own cover. Reporting is not the same as making a claim against your own policy.

How long do I have to file?

Two different clocks matter: the notice period in your policy, which is often short, and your state's legal deadline for bringing a claim, which is set by statute and varies. Neither should be assumed from a general figure.

Will my premium go up if I report it?

That depends on your insurer, your state, and whether you are found responsible. It is worth asking your insurer directly, but it is generally a worse outcome to breach the notice requirement in order to avoid the question.

What if the other driver has no insurance?

Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may respond, if you carry it. Whether that coverage is mandatory or optional depends on your state. Your declarations page will tell you what you have.

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