As if getting into an accident isn’t stressful enough, sometimes the claims process can be equally as frustrating. By obtaining as much information as possible, you can save yourself time as well as help out your insurance company in getting your claim resolved as soon as possible.
Who did I have the accident with? Be sure you get complete information from the other party(ies) involved. This includes their name, address, and contact numbers, as well as their driver’s license and insurance information. Be sure to get their insurance policy number and the agent’s information for future reference.
Were there any witnesses? If someone saw the accident happen, try to get their contact information so they can verify what they saw. This could be helpful in a situation where it becomes your word against the other driver’s.
Were the police called? If the police showed up, be sure to get the name and badge number of the officer, as well as the report number. Also make note if anyone received a citation as a result of the accident.
What kind of vehicle or vehicles were involved in the accident? You will want to make sure you get the vehicle descriptions including tag and ID number for each vehicle involved. If you can’t get those, at least write down a good description of the car’s make, model, and color.
Where did the accident happen? Get the intersection or street that the accident happened on. You will want to make sure that you know how many lanes are on each side of the street, if the street or streets are 1 way or 2 way, and the type of striping. You will also want to know where each vehicle impacted, what lane you and the other vehicle were in, the direction of travel, and if there were any signs posted that control traffic flow.
How many passengers were in each vehicle? Take note how many people were in each of the vehicles involved. Once you know, make a brief note of their description or name including: ethnicity, gender, weight, height, etc. This will help if you are the victim of a staged accident or other type of insurance fraud. Sometimes people are reported as an occupant of a vehicle when they were not actually present. This is not common, but if it ever does happen, this will help you avoid being a victim.
What type of condition was the car in right after the accident? Make notes about the damage done to each vehicle. Were the cars driveable? Where is the damage? Is there any additional damage on the vehicle that is not related to the accident? Some people might claim pre-existing damage in an accident as a way to get their entire car fixed.
Where do I want to get my vehicle repaired? If you have a shop in mind, have that information with you. If you don’t know of a good place, check with your insurance company as sometimes they have preferred places with special guarantees.
Take pictures of the accident right after it occurred. Everybody has a picture phone these days, make good use of it. Take a photo of your vehicle and the other vehicles(s) involved including all 4 corners. If possible, take the pictures prior to any of the vehicles being moved. This will help clarify how the accident occurred. Also, if you can get the other party in the photo, that will help in the event that either insurance needs help identifying the other party involved.
Write down all the information and keep it in a safe place. This will help resolve any problems with the claim if they should arise. When you report it, be sure to write down the name of the person you spoke with and their contact number. Be sure to make notes about what he/she said in case there are any discrepancies.
This sounds like a lot of information, but in these cases, there is no such thing as too much. It will be tough to remember all of these things as you will be rattled from the accident, but try to get as much as possible. We would all like to believe that everybody is honest, but sometimes it doesn’t always work that way. Having all the right information can help protect you no matter what happens.
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