Always File a Claim, Regardless of Who Was At-Fault One of the primary questions we receive from clients who have been in an accident is whether they should report the accident to their own auto insurance carrier, particularly when the accident was not their fault. And the answer to that question is: always.
Reporting a Car Insurance Claim If you're filing a first-party insurance claim, call the number on your insurance card or go online to report the accident. If you're filing a third-party insurance claim, you should obtain insurance information from the other driver to contact their insurer.
It's only when you file a claim that you may face a rate adjustment. By reporting the accident, you'll be covered if the damage or injuries are significant but if you don't need to make a claim, you've risked nothing.
It's better if you file a third party claim directly with the other person's insurance. That will keep your insurance rates from rising (yes, your rates can rise if you file a claim with your own insurance even if you're not at fault.) You can't use a delay in processing the claim as an excuse to run up more expenses.
You are required by the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law to file an crash (accident) report if you are involved in any crash where there is damage to the property of one individual (including yourself) that is more than $1,000. The report must be filed within 10 days.
In terms of deadlines for reporting car accidents to insurance companies in California, the specific requirements vary from one insurance company to the next. Most insurance companies require their policyholders to report accidents within 30 days of the accident.
How to Write an Incident Report: A Step-by-Step Guide (with Examples) Step 1: Provide Fundamental Information. Step 2: Take Note of Any Damages and Injuries. Step 3: Identify Affected Individual(s) ... Step 4: Identify Witnesses and Take Their Statements. Step 5: Take Action. Step 6: Close Your Report.
Accident report forms should include fields for names and contact information of the individuals and witnesses involved, the type of accident, the date and time the accident occurred, the location of the accident, a detailed description of the accident, and room for any additional comments.
Stick to the Facts Focus on the facts without adding opinions or assumptions. Describe what happened during the accident clearly and avoid discussing fault or other details. Never guess or estimate. If you don't know the answer to a question, admit that you don't know and move on.
Filing an Crash (Accident) Report You are required by the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law to file an crash (accident) report if you are involved in any crash where there is damage to the property of one individual (including yourself) that is more than $1,000. The report must be filed within 10 days.