If the police do not show up at the scene, you should still file a police report at the police station as quickly as possible. [3] X Research source
You may also be asked to provide a police report number, if there is one. You’ll be provided with a claim numbers and phone number for a point of contact at the provider. Be sure to write these down. [5] X Research source
Keep all receipts of any repairs you have done during this time. Insurance providers are not responsible for post-accident, preventable damage, so make sure you get any issues like this repaired. [6] X Research source
If you were at fault for the accident, you will have to call your own insurer. If you were not, call the insurer of the guilty party. [8] X Research source You may also have to make an appointment for a claims adjuster to look at your vehicle. Schedule this visit as soon as possible so that you can get your car accident damages determined quickly. Alternately, the insurance provider will have you visit an authorized repair shop to get a repairs estimate. [9] X Research source
If the crash was your fault, your insurer will pay for damages to your vehicle and others involved in the crash. At this point, the adjuster will determine a payment for repairs to your vehicle after assessing damage and repair costs. [10] X Research source
Realize that you cannot get a payment for repairs equal to or greater than about half of the value of your car. This is because anything over this value is considered a total loss. At this point, the insurer will not repair the car, but will provide you with an amount equal to the market value of your car before the accident. If you want to keep your car, make sure not to negotiate a payment higher than this amount. The exact percentage varies between insurers, but marking a payment of 50 percent of the car’s value or greater as a total loss is common. [13] X Research source
Obtaining payment for medical bills directly after the accident and loss of income from an insurer is fairly easy, as these can easily be quantified; however, if you are going to seek ongoing treatment or general damages payments (like emotional distress), you may want to retain an attorney. [15] X Research source General damages are usually calculated using a multiple based on the severity of the injuries. Your medical bills are then multiplied by this number to arrive at a settlement amount. For example, a relatively non-serious injury might have a multiple of two, whereas very serious injuries may have one as high as 10. [16] X Research source
You have other rights that you can exercise without hiring an attorney. For example, you may be able to have an independent appraisal performed on the damages. Or, you can try contacting your state’s insurance department to file a claim against the insurer if you do not believe they are negotiating in good faith. [18] X Research source
