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How do I file a third-party car insurance claim?

I’m looking to file an insurance claim with a third party but I’m a little confused on how the process works—how do you file a third-party claim?

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Chloe Jenkins · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Filing a third-party claim can be one of those things you may not know much about until you need to do it. Luckily, to file a third-party insurance claim, all you have to do is contact your
car insurance
company as soon as possible following your accident. Your insurer will work with the other driver’s insurance company on your behalf and help you file a third-party car insurance claim.
You can expect to work with a claims representative or insurance adjuster during the process. They may gather details about the accident, inspect the damage to each vehicle, and/or ask for a copy of the police report. Based upon their findings, the insurance adjuster will determine which driver is at fault for the accident. If the other driver is found to be at fault, the insurance company may pay your third-party claim.
Depending on how the accident happened, you could be found partially at fault. If the insurance companies find both drivers to be at fault, with you 30 percent at fault, for example, and the other driver 70 percent at fault, they will have to cover 70 percent of the settlement, while you and your company handle the remaining 30 percent.
During this process, if you feel that you’re unhappy with your insurance company’s service or your policy’s coverage, consider shopping for new coverage with the
Jerry
app. We’ll get you personalized quotes from top insurers in seconds, so that all you need to do is pick the plan that works best for you. And once you’ve picked one, we’ll help you switch over!
Best of luck, and hope everything goes smoothly!
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