If you’re in a car accident, your first concern should be the safety of you, your passengers, and others involved. But once the proverbial smoke clears, you might need to file a liability claim to collect damages and recoup medical expenses and lost wages due to personal injuries.

Once the dust settles on your car accident, you’ll need to understand how to file a liability claim. Here to walk you through that process is

Jerry

, the

trusted broker app

for car owners. We’ve got everything you need to know about liability

car insurance

and the steps you need to follow to file a liability claim.

What is a liability claim?

Almost all states require drivers to demonstrate financial responsibility by carrying minimum

liability insurance

to drive. Essentially, this insurance says that you are liable to pay for any property damage or personal injuries you may cause in an automobile accident.

When you’re at fault in an

accident

, the other driver will file a liability claim with your insurance company to collect damages to pay for their repairs and medical expenses.

MORE:

What do I do after a car accident?

Types of liability insurance claims

Liability insurance coverage consists of both bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

Bodily injury

Bodily injury liability

insurance pays for medical bills and lost income associated with injuries you cause if you’re at fault in a car accident.

Property damage

Property damage liability

insurance covers the more tangible aspect of the damage caused in a car accident. It pays for repairs to vehicles and stationary objects—like homes and fences—that were damaged in the claimable accident.

Key Takeaway Liability insurance only covers other drivers if you’re at fault in an accident. To make sure you’re protected, you’ll want a full-coverage policy with both comprehensive coverage and collision coverage is the best idea.

MORE:

How much does your insurance go up after an accident?

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

The liability claim process

The liability claims process following an auto accident is fairly simple and straightforward—but it does involve several steps, many of which take place at the scene of the accident.

Before you begin collecting information for your claim, take the necessary time to ensure you and all involved in the accident are safe and that medical help is on the way for those in need.

If you’ve been involved in an accident and you’ll be filing a liability claim against the other driver, here’s what you should do.

Step one: Document the scene

When it comes to the liability claim process, little is more important than the evidence you and first responders collect at the scene of the accident. Due diligence here will not go amiss. In a perfect world, your phone will be undamaged—but if you don’t have access to a phone with a camera function, ensure someone can photograph the following and email you the files:

The entire scene (preferably in 360 degrees)

Any signs, traffic signals, or other indicators of right-of-way

All visible damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles involved in the accident

All vehicles involved in their entirety from front, back, and each side

Any injuries to you and/or your passengers

In addition to photographic evidence, you should collect the names and contact information of any witnesses, police report numbers, and the names and badge numbers of any officers called to the scene.

Step two: Exchange contact and insurance information

Once you’ve documented all the evidence at the scene, it’s time to exchange contact and insurance information with the other drivers involved in the accident. Tensions are likely to be running high, but it’s important to remain calm and avoid discussing fault. Instead, focus on the details and collect the following from each driver and their vehicle:

Name

Address

Phone number

License plate number

Insurance provider

Insurance policy number and full name of policyholder

Any additional information you feel may be useful

Step three: Contact your insurance provider

The terms of your auto policy will require that you contact your provider as soon as possible following an accident. You don’t necessarily need to call your insurance agent. Many providers offer online claim forms and other automated procedures to make this process as simple as possible. Your insurance company will pick up the claims process from here—contacting the other driver’s insurer, using the collected evidence to determine fault, and calculating payouts.

It is not the claimant’s responsibility to contact the other driver’s insurer. It is each driver’s responsibility to contact their own provider—and your provider will reach out to the other driver’s insurer on your behalf as well.

Step Four: Wait for the other insurance company to determine fault

If the other driver is at fault, their insurer will settle your claim. An adjuster will be assigned to keep you apprised of your claims status, but generally speaking, most providers try to resolve claims within 30 days. Your claim could take more or less time depending on a number of factors.

Whether your receive a payout will depend on the other driver’s coverage and policy limits. Just because they’re found to be at fault doesn’t mean you’ll receive a payout—and if you do, it may not be large enough to cover all of your repairs or expenses. This is why having additional protections—like

uninsured/underinsured

motorist and

collision insurance

—is always a good idea.

Did you find this article helpful?

Your feedback helps us to create content that better serves readers like you.

How to find a cheap liability insurance policy

Generally speaking, liability coverage is among the

cheapest car insurance

you can find. But if you really want to make sure you’ve got the best deal possible, shop for your liability coverage on the

Jerry

app.

Not only is shopping for insurance with Jerry easy, it’s also fast. All you need is 45 seconds, and Jerry’s licensed brokers will compare quotes from over 55 of the top providers in the country to bring you customized quotes at the best prices. Customers save an average of more than $800 a year when they switch with Jerry!