What Information Do I Need to File a Claim?

After a car accident can be a real pain, there are many things that you need to do. When you get into a car accident, you may experience shock and confusion, making it hard to remember all the evidence you need to collect for your insurance company. But, obtaining evidence is essential to have an accurate claim for your insurance company. Without the crucial information, it will make it harder for the insurance company to tell what happened in the accident, who was at fault, and who they should contact to get all the details. 

Legal experts, like lawyer John Hipskind, recommend these tips to help you collect all the information you need for your insurance claim. This way, when it comes time to talk to your insurance company, you will be all set and ready to go. 

1. The Other Driver’s Information

When getting into an accident, you must collect information about the other driver. You need to collect their driver’s license number, insurance company card, license plate, and the make, model, and year of their car. This information is pertinent to the insurance company, so you want to make sure that you do not miss any of it. A good tip is to take pictures to get all the information you need. 

2. Details of the Accident

The next thing you will need for your insurance claim is a description of what happened in the accident. When talking to your insurance company, be sure to describe the car accident like a third party who watched the accident happen. Many people will say things to the insurance company that can cause them to get less compensation for the accident. An experienced and professional lawyer can help guide you on what to say and what not to say to the insurance company. 

3. Witness Testimony 

If anyone at the accident scene witnessed what happened, it is ideal to have witness testimony from them. You can either record the witness testimony, write it down, or get the witnesses’ contact information at the scene and have them talk to your insurance company directly. Having witness testimony can go far when filing your insurance claim, especially in proving that you were not at fault for the accident. 

4. Police Report

If you were able to obtain a police report, this is information that you will want to have handy when talking to your insurance company. A police report describes what happened in the accident and who was involved. Having this item can help prove fault in the accident. 

Having all this information is essential when filing your insurance claim. If the police were not called to the accident scene or there were no witnesses, you must at least explain the accident and provide the other driver’s information to complete your claim. Remember, you can always receive help from professional lawyers if you have trouble speaking to your insurance company.