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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Police report lookup
Still missing the accident report the insurer is asking for? We'll help you find it.
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.
What people ask next
Sources
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Consumer information and state insurance department directoryFederal Trade Commission
Consumer Advice