Generally, it takes a lot of time to file a third-party insurance claim. Some insurance policies require you to inform your auto insurance company if you are involved in an accident. This means you need to be aware of the particular situation you are in before deciding not to inform your auto insurance company.
After you get involved in an accident and the other driver is at fault, you should contact your insurance company and not the other driver’s insurer.
But in rare cases, you can contact the other driver’s insurer. Your insurance company will stand for you, and the other driver’s insurer will stand for them. In this case, both insurers will sort out the issue, and then the at-fault driver’s liability coverage will cover the damages to your car.
Whether you should file a claim on your auto insurance or theirs depends on some factors and the case or circumstances. Before filing your claim after an accident, read through this write-up to understand the process.
Should I File a Claim With My Auto Insurance or Theirs?
Three main cases impact the decision of which auto insurance company you should file an accident claim with. These cases include:
- If you are not the at-fault driver and have no collision insurance coverage, you would have to file a claim with the at-fault other driver’s insurance.
- If you are not at fault and do not want to inform your auto insurance company, you may decide to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance.
- If you do not intend to pay your insurance deductible, you may also file a third-party insurance claim with their insurance.
It generally takes a long time to file a third-party insurance claim. Your auto insurance claim may require you to file a third-party claim with the other insurance company after informing them. However, if you live in a no-fault state, you would need to file a claim with your auto insurance company irrespective of who is at fault and the damages.
What to do After a Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault
After a car accident, it is important to stay safe and seek medical attention. Once everything at the accident scene has been handled, you may be thinking of what to do since the accident wasn’t your fault. In most cases, the other driver’s liability coverage would pay for damages made to your car and personal property.
Their insurance coverage should cover your medical bills up to the limit of the policy. Meaning that you may need to file a third-party claim with the other driver’s auto insurance company.
Should I Talk to the Other Insurance Company After an Accident?
It is a good idea to exchange contacts and insurance information after an accident. If you turn out to not be at fault for the accident, you can file a claim on the other driver’s liability insurance coverage. In this situation, you will have to speak with the other driver’s insurance company.
How to File an Auto Insurance Claim on Someone Else?
To file an insurance claim on someone else, you need to get the other driver’s address, name, insurance policy numbers, and phone numbers.
If you have a photo proof, you can also present it to help your case. If the other driver is at fault for the accident, you may be able to file an insurance claim against them, and their insurance will cover your car damages, medical bills, and other related bills.
Should I Call My Insurance if It Wasn’t My Fault?
If you have insurance coverage like collision insurance, medical payment insurance coverage, or personal injury protection, you may want to contact your insurance company, even if it wasn’t your fault. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have auto insurance, has low limits, or if the driver does not have their information at hand, filing a claim to your auto insurance may be the best thing to do.
Should I Report Car Damage to My Auto Insurance?
It is important to inform your insurance about your car damage. This is because insurance companies require their policyholders to inform them about accidents they get involved in. Failure to report your accidents may lead to penalties, even cancellation of your insurance policy.
The sooner you inform them about your car damage, the more likely your claim will be successful and the faster you will get the claim payment. However, if you do not inform them on time, your auto insurance company may doubt the legitimacy and severity of your car’s damages and injuries. Because of this, it is best to inform your auto insurance company about your car damage after an accident.
