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How to tell your car insurance agent you were in an accident

On Behalf of | Sep 30, 2020 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

It should be easy enough to file a car insurance claim, but that’s not always the case. Even if you have a good relationship with your agent, things can quickly take a turn for the worse.

There are things you should and shouldn’t do when telling your car insurance agent you were in an accident. Here are some tips:

  • Don’t admit fault: Even if you don’t know who was at fault, it’s best to keep this to yourself. There’s no good reason to tell your car insurance agent that you were the one who caused the accident.
  • Stick to the facts: Without saying anything that makes you look responsible, explain the basic facts of the accident. This includes things such as the time, location and number of vehicles involved.
  • Don’t make a recorded statement: Should your car insurance agent ask you to provide a recorded statement, politely decline the request. You don’t want to do this until you’re 100% sure of your legal rights and understand what you should and shouldn’t share.
  • Don’t talk too much about your injuries: It’s okay to tell your car insurance agent that you received medical care. You can even share your diagnosis, as well as other information provided by your doctor. However, you don’t want to come across as threatening. For example, don’t say, “You know I suffered a neck injury in the accident.” This makes it look like you’re chasing money.
  • Find out what comes next: You should have a basic idea of how the claims process will unfold, including what is required of you. Without this, you’ll do a lot of sitting around and wondering what’s to come. You’re better off if you ask for an outline of how things will play out.

These are the types of things to keep in mind when telling your car insurance agent you were in an accident.

Your goal is to file a claim, understand the process and do your part in protecting your legal rights. If you’re successful in doing so, you’ll feel better about your position as you recover and move on from the accident.