File a Claim
How to File a Claim
Never admit to fault in an accident. Contact the police to have them, report to the scene of the accident.
They will write file a police report and will provide you with a collision report with all the information of the accident and parties involved. You will need a copy this form to file your insurance claim.
You will need to provide the accident collision report, sometimes referred to as an FR10 form, to your local insurance agent. They are required to confirm liability insurance is/or was active at the time of the accident for the vehicle you were driving. The form has a section for your local agent to fill out which can be done online between the DMV and your local agent.
Call your local insurance agent to let them know you were involved in an accident. They will also guide you through the steps to file the claim with the insurance carrier.
Once you have filed the claim with the insurance carrier, you will be assigned to a claims adjuster and a claim # to use in reference to your personal claim. The adjuster typically reaches out to you within 2-3 business days if not sooner.
They will ask you to provide in detail exactly what happened in the accident. If you had passengers in your car, you will need to have their contact information for the adjuster as well.
You should have an estimate of the cost to repair your vehicle to provide to your claims adjuster. They will also have an estimate from a third-party contractor. The estimate would normally outline the work to be done, as well as if the insurance company will use aftermarket or generic parts. Once you and the adjuster agree, the repairs will begin.
As part of your insurance contract, you are required to work with the insurance company allowing them to assess damage and work on agreed settlements.
As part of the agreement, you hand over the control of the situation to the insurance company and allow their claims professionals to work with third-party vendors/contractors. You must never make any commitments on the insurance company’s behalf. Always be sure not to make repairs before they are approved by the carrier.