PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Loans
Car Loan
Compare Car Loans with Jerry
Jerry's Expert Advice
Car Loan Guides
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
How do I file an insurance claim after a car accident?
Someone hit me in an intersection today—I’m pretty shaken up, and I’m not sure what to do. I need help filing an insurance claim; I’ve never had to do this before, and it’s a lot. How do I file a claim after an accident?
Matthew Macgugan · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I am so sorry that happened, and I hope nobody was seriously injured! There are a few steps you need to take to properly file a claim against someone else’s
car insurance
, but it starts with contacting your own provider.The first step is to contact your insurance company and file a claim. You should be prepared to answer a few questions about the scene of the collision, such as:
- What time of day was it?
- What was the weather?
- Who do you believe was at fault?
If you got insurance information and personal identification information from the other driver, that will also help you immensely, especially if you only have
liability coverage
. Photos of the accident and surroundings are also helpful—this will help your claim process go quickly, as it will help your insurance agent fact-check your claim. You should also get the badge number and name of any police officers that responded.If you live in a
no-fault state
, your insurance will require you to make a claim on your own policy even if the accident wasn’t your fault. These states require personal injury protection (PIP) for situations like this, and someone usually has to be seriously injured before you can file a lawsuit against the other driver’s insurance.The process may take some time. Again, there is a lot of information that insurance companies need to collect and there are several people to contact. Be patient! It’ll be over soon enough and you can get back on the road.
However, if you’re not satisfied with the treatment you receive from your provider, you may want to consider switching. One easy way to do this is through the
Jerry
—we’ll get you customized quotes from different providers so that all you need to do is choose the plan that works best for you. And if you choose to switch, we’ll help you every step of the way.Best of luck with the claim—and with your own recovery, too.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies
