When you’re driving and have the misfortune of getting into an accident, you’ll need to file a claim with your insurance provider to make sure you are reimbursed financially for any repairs to your car, to the other person’s car or property, and to any of the people involved, including yourself. Otherwise you’ll be paying a potentially hefty sum out of pocket for these costs.
However, there are some missteps you can take that might lead you to having your car insurance claim denied. Here are a few of the most common ones that you should try to avoid:
- Admitting fault. After you’re in an accident, the police will often arrive to assess the situation and get any information collected to move forward with pressing charges and seeing who is at fault for the accident. The worst thing you can do here is admit that the accident was your fault in front of the officers or the other driver(s). The police will decide who is at fault for the accident, but admitting guilt can help the other driver file an insurance claim that makes it impossible for your policy to defend you.
- Not taking photos. You’ll want to make sure that you take photos of the damage, especially to your car, so that you can provide solid evidence to the police involved as well as to your insurance company if requested. This doesn’t just mean taking photos of exterior damage (though that is incredibly important); you’ll want to take photos of the other vehicles involved, odometers, deployed airbags, road conditions (especially if it was icy or rainy and the accident was a result of sliding on slick surfaces), and the surrounding area of the accident.
- Not calling the proper authorities. The police won’t just show up automatically to your accident site (though that would be a relief often!). Some states require the drivers to alert the police if someone was killed or injured in a driving accident or if property damages exceed a certain amount. However, even if your accident is minor, it could be beneficial to have the police there because they can document the accident and write up an official report of it. This report is necessary for any of the drivers involved that will want to file an insurance claim.
- Not getting the right information. You’ll want to make sure you get the right information from all the parties involved in the accident to help your case and to help the police fill out their reports accurately. Additionally, you’ll want to talk to any witnesses who saw the accident happen or nearby surveillance cameras that can help prove your point.
