Dealing with Another Party's Car Insurance Company

No one likes having to deal with a claim from a car insurance company. However, most drivers do have a collision at some time in their driving career, which means they will inevitably have to deal with this process sooner or later. Just like anything else, it’s best to be prepared. After the initial accident, take a moment to collect yourself. The most important thing you must do is stay calm. It’s understandable to be upset about the damage to your car or even the damage to the car belonging to the other driver, but there’s nothing you can do to fix it at the moment. The best thing you can do on the scene of the accident is to stay safe and never admit fault, whether you think it was your mistake or not. If you admit fault to the other driver or even to the police unnecessarily, that can damage your position in the claim.

Once you’ve exchanged insurance information with the other driver, you should always contact your insurance company first. Your claims adjuster is going to be your best ally during the settlement process, because they are going to do whatever they can to reduce the liability of your insurance company. This includes proving you were not at fault in the accident. You don’t want the black mark on your record of being in the position of “at fault” in an accident. That can raise your insurance rate significantly over a long period of time. Call your insurance company’s claims number immediately and report the accident. Tell the adjuster exactly what happened while it is still fresh in your mind. They may want you to make a recorded statement, which is ok.

Now we come to the process of dealing with the other party’s insurer. This is where most people make mistakes. You should avoid talking to the other party’s insurer unless your adjuster says you absolutely have to. If an adjuster calls you from the other company, don’t talk to them right away. Give them the contact information so they can get a hold of your claims adjuster. Let your insurance company’s representative deal with them. They know the trade and will do a better job of handling the process and avoiding mistakes. Decline to make any statement about the accident to the other party’s insurance company and never consent to a recorded statement without the approval of your adjuster. If you do have to talk to the other party’s claims adjuster, have your adjuster coach you first on what you should and shouldn’t say. Suggest that he or she accompany you on a conference call rather than risking dealing with the other insurer all by yourself.

The biggest thing you should remember is that the insurance game is all about avoiding liability, so you should always keep that in mind. By helping to protect your insurance company from having to pay out on a claim you’re going to ensure that your rates won’t increase, which saves you money.