How to Handle Car Insurance Claims

Be prepared. Keep a disposable camera in your car's glovebox. Cellphone cameras can be used as well, but make sure the resolution is good enough to show details. Also, keep contact information for your car insurance company's claims hotline in your car. Insurance ID cards will sometimes list this information.

Take note of the time and location of the accident. If you have a cell phone, immediately call 911 to get emergency and law enforcement assistance before you move or get out of the vehicle.

Exchange contact information with other parties involved. Include your name, address and insurance information. Don't discuss the accident until authorities have arrived to take reports and statements of witnesses.

Take pictures of the accident scene and vehicles involved. This can protect you later from false claims of damage to another party's vehicle. Also get shots of the road and general surroundings to provide proof of atmospheric conditions at the time. If it is safe to do so, you may also want to get pictures of the initial point of contact (intersection, private drive) and pictures of skid marks.

Call your car insurance claims hotline number to report the accident. The claims representative will ask you several questions pertaining to the incident, however, he will also rely upon police reports and photographs to put together your claim file. Give the contact information for the other parties involved, and the names of officers who took statements.

Cooperate with your insurance company. You may also want to retain an attorney for added protection, whether you were at fault or not. Keep detailed records of all correspondence, including calls, emails and letters from your own insurance company, and those from the other party's insurance company. Obtain a copy of the police reports for your own records, and make extra copies of the photographs taken at the scene.