Most insurance policies require policyholders to promptly report any accidents or incidents, regardless of fault. Notifying your insurance company allows them to initiate the claims process, gather necessary information, and provide guidance on the next steps.
California law prevents insurance companies from increasing your rates for accidents where you are not considered principally at fault.
Admitting fault for the crash. Discussing your personal injuries. Giving a recorded statement. Any speculations or assumptions. You do not have a car accident attorney. Any unnecessary information. Accepting a settlement offer. Sharing medical records.
For personal injury cases like car accident lawsuits, you have two years from the date of the accident. If you're dealing with damage to your vehicle but no injuries, you have three years to file. However, if a government agency is involved in the accident, the time limit shrinks dramatically.
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.
If you want to take legal action to claim compensation for a personal injury, you will need to get advice from a solicitor specialising in these types of cases. This must be done as soon as possible as there are strict time limits on taking legal action.
Provide your name, phone number, and address. If pressed for more, inform the adjuster of things like the date, time, and location. However, you are not required to discuss the nature of your injury, the treatment you received, and how the crash occurred.
If there are injuries, call paramedics. Get as much information as possible at the accident scene to furnish to your agent and/or insurance company. Immediately notify your agent and/or insurance company of an accident. Cooperate with the insurance adjusters/investigators to aid in their efforts.
“Incident (Accident) Investigations: A Guide for Employers” simplifies how to approach incident or accident investigations — providing helpful information on how to: Preserve and document the scene. Collect Data. Determine root causes. Implement corrective actions.
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.