Who Makes the Claim After a Car Accident?
If you’ve just been involved in a car accident, you may be wondering who’s responsible for calling the insurance company to make a claim. To help our local drivers in Brockton, Randolph, and Stoughton answer this question, Collision 24 created the following guide. Please enjoy reading and if you need to schedule a service appointment, click here.
Who’s to Claim?
In a car accident, who’s to claim is largely up to who’s at fault for the accident. Did you crash into the other car or did the other car crash into you?
If you know you were at fault, you and the other driver involved will both file claims to your insurance provider. For you, this would be known as a first-party claim and for the other driver it would be considered a third-party claim.
If the opposite was true, both parties would still file claims, but you would file a third-party claim to the other driver’s company, while they’d file a first-party claim to their own insurance provider.
Gathering the Information You Need to File a Claim
Filing an insurance claim is the first step in reconciling the aftermath of an accident. There’s two sides to every story and the information provided by both parties will be used to determine settlement, so you want to make sure that the information you give is accurate and objective.
To make a claim after a car accident, you’ll want to rely on the same facts you told the police when you reported the accident. Here’s a refresher:
- Location of the accident
- Account of what happened
- The other driver’s name and insurance information
- Names and contact info of any witnesses
- Pictures of both cars taken at the time of accident
Filing an Insurance Claim
Whether you’re filing a third-party claim or a first-party claim, make sure to contact your insurance company and stick to the facts as best you can.
It’s important to remember that just because the police found one person at fault, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the same conclusion will be made by the insurance company. If you’re filing third-party and don’t believe to have been at fault for the accident, it’s still a wise idea to give your own insurance company a call to make sure they stay in the loop as to what’s going on.
Read up on more tips for filling an insurance claim and getting your vehicle repaired here.
Claim Made, Now What?
While the at-fault driver is primarily responsible for notifying their insurance company through a first-party claim after the accident, the best practice is to file third-party if needed and always follow up with your own insurance provider. After claims have been filed, a claims adjuster will be assigned to your accident to review the relevant information and evidence and come to a resolution.
If your car has been damaged and needs repairs, you’re entitled to choose the collision repair provider you prefer to fix up your vehicle. For expert collision repair in Brockton, Randolph, or Stoughton, Collision 24 is your one-stop solution for professional appraisals and top-notch body work.
Our collision specialists will work with your insurance company or the other party’s insurance company to make sure you get the repairs you need. Contact us today by phone or through our online appointment form.