- 1). Obtain a copy of the police report if the police were called to the accident scene. Highlight the parts of the police report that indicate what happened and which party was found to be at fault.
- 2). Take pictures of the damage, both to your car and the other vehicle. Be sure to take photos from several different angles. This will help you document the damage and substantiate your claim.
- 3). Review your car insurance policy carefully so you understand exactly what type of coverage you have. For instance, if you have liability coverage only on your vehicle, it will be a waste of your time to file a claim for damages to your own vehicle if the accident was your fault. To recover damages to your own car in such a crash, you would need to have collision coverage on your vehicle.
- 4). Obtain at least two or three estimates for the repair of the damage. To process your claim, the insurance company will need to see several competitive estimates. If the insurance company requires that you use a specific body shop, be sure to get an estimate from that shop. You can determine whether or not the insurance company has this requirement by reading your policy or contacting a claim representative.
- 5). Make copies of all your documentation, including pictures of the damage, police reports and witness statements. To save money, ask your supervisor if you can use the office copy machine. Otherwise, look to local office supply stores, where black and white copies are often quite inexpensive.
- 6). Contact a claim representative from your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. Notifying the car insurance company promptly is vital. Be sure you have all of the documentation and accident details in front of you before you call.
- 7). Complete any claim forms required by your insurance company. Depending on the company, you might be able to complete this paperwork online. Otherwise, wait for the claim to arrive in the mail, then fill it out completely and mail it back. Be sure to make copies of the claim form for your records.
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