The Dos & Don’ts After An Accident: Navigating The Insurance Claims Process

The Dos & Don’ts After An Accident: Navigating The Insurance Claims Process

When you’ve had a car accident, safety is the first thing on your mind; after that, you’re probably thinking about insurance claims. We’ve designed this guide to help: We’ll go through what to do from the moment the accident occurs to when your insurance company offers you a settlement, and everything in between. 

What To Do Immediately After a Car Accident

Here are some of the things you should do immediately after a car accident:

 

  • Do: Check to see if everyone is okay. Administer first aid and call 911 if necessary.
  • Do: Offer assistance to the person in the other vehicle.
  • Do: Take pictures of any damage caused by the accident.
  • Do: Exchange contact information and insurance details with the other driver (or drivers if there were multiple parties involved).
  • Do: Report the accident to the police and obtain a copy of the accident report.

 

And here are some things you shouldn’t do:

 

  • Don’t: Tell other parties that your insurance will cover the damage.
  • Don’t: Panic and drive off, withhold information, or not file a police report. 

 

The goals here are simple. First, you want to make sure everybody is safe. Then, you want to document the accident damage and, where necessary, injuries. Keeping open lines of communication with other drivers and passengers is essential—so is giving police all the information they need.

 

There’s no need to panic and admit fault, claim that your insurance will cover it, or withhold information. Any of the above can make you liable for damages in circumstances where you would not otherwise be liable. 

How To File an Insurance Claim

Here are a few of the things you should do when filing a car insurance claim:

 

  • Do: Contact your insurance company as soon as you can after your accident. You can also contact your insurance broker for guidance.
  • Do: Ask questions about your car insurance coverage. 
  • Do: Give a detailed report when filing your claim.
  • Do: Ask for guidance when filing your claim if you need it.

 

And here are some things to avoid:

 

  • Don’t: Exaggerate or lie when filing your claim.
  • Don’t: File a claim for low amounts.

 

Your instinct might be to file an insurance claim any time you have a car accident, but this can be a mistake. Your deductible might eat up most of the money you could get back from a small claim, and claiming can increase your premium; many policies have claims-free discounts. Talk to your insurance agent or insurance broker before filing to determine if it’s worthwhile. 

 

You’ll also want to be very careful about filing your claim accurately; your claims adjuster will have access to all kinds of information to determine the legitimacy of your claim. Giving accurate information when filing a claim about the facts surrounding the accident will speed up the claims process—and fraudulent claims can have serious legal consequences. 

How To Deal With Your Insurance Company

Now that you’ve made your claim, you have to wait for your insurance company to respond. Car insurance claims take time.

 

  • Do: Be patient when you’ve filed a car accident claim.
  • Do: Review and understand your insurance policy.
  • Do: Be courteous with your claims adjuster.
  • Do: Take the time to understand at-fault accidents.

 

  • Don’t: Be afraid to counteroffer.

 

By understanding your auto insurance policy, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate with your insurance company should the need arise. Car accidents are complex, and car insurance claims can take a lot of time; use that time to better understand your policy and factors such as whether or not you’re at fault.

 

Once you receive an offer from your insurance company, you’re well within your right to counteroffer. These counter offers should be made based on facts; take the time to pull up Blue Book values, Carfax values, sale prices on Kijiji and other marketplaces, and more.

 

Car accidents are stressful. Filing a claim doesn’t have to be done. Nation North brokers offer car insurance in Yellowknife; we’re happy to offer our clients help with filing car insurance claims. Reach out to us today!