A Georgia Legal Guide: How to Report Your Car Accident to the Insurance Companies

Key Points:

• You should always contact your car insurance company after you have been in an accident. 
• You can connect with car insurance companies in many ways depending on your provider: Your insurance card or App usually provide the most direct methods of contact. 
• Notify the at-fault driver’s insurance company by locating their insurance information on the police report, then looking up the claims’ reporting number online.
• Hiring a lawyer can help expedite the claims process by ensuring all necessary documentation is submitted correctly and by negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf. 
• If you are not at-fault for an accident, you can pursue methods such as filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance, using your own insurance coverage, or seeking legal assistance to recover costs.  

Table of Contents

FAQs on Reporting a Car Accident to Auto Insurance Companies 

Can You File an Insurance Claim Online? 

Most insurance companies make it easy to submit an insurance claim using multiple different methods, which include everything from mobile apps and websites to over the phone or via email. 

Is It Better to Contact an Auto Insurance Company Over the Phone? 

There are benefits and drawbacks to contacting an auto insurance company after you are in a car accident. The representative you speak to will answer questions you have about filing a claim and quickly explain the information you will need to provide. 

However, there may be limited hours of operation within which you can speak to a representative, and you also risk potentially disclosing too much information or oversharing details that can threaten your claim. 

What Is the Best Way to Report a Car Accident to an Auto Insurance Company? 

One of the easiest ways to report a car accident to your auto insurance company is by contacting your agent, although many companies also offer convenient options like mobile apps or online portals. They will be able to guide you through the next steps you need to take to file your claim. 

Is It Better to Report the Car Accident to the Insurance Company Immediately, or Should I Wait? 

You should always report a car accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. If you wait too long to report the accident, your claim can be reduced or even outright denied! Your insurance company needs to know immediately so they have an easier time investigating the incident, and the longer you wait, the higher the chances that evidence is lost or stories become inconsistent.  

Should You File a Car Accident Claim with an Insurance Agent or Through the Claims Department? 

When you file your claim following an accident, your insurance agent will direct you through the process to file the claim with the proper claims department. While you can file your claim directly with the claims department, doing so increases the risk of errors that could delay your payout; your agent is available to answer any questions and provide the necessary information for filing your claim. 

If You Are Not The At-Fault Driver 

If I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer, Can They Contact the Insurance Company and Report the Car Accident for Me? 

Hiring legal representation before reporting your car accident will ensure you have proper guidance on how to speak with your insurance company. Insurance agents are focused on protecting their companies’ bottom line, not on getting you the money you need. A car accident lawyer can discuss your case with the insurance company and will work tirelessly to ensure your rights are protected. 

Who Do I Need to Contact after I Am in a Car Accident? 

There are a number of people you need to contact after a car accident: 

• Local police. It is important to involve local police officials to get a documented report of the accident, which is useful for future claims or legal cases. 
• Emergency services. If someone is severely injured, call 911 as soon as possible. 
• Medical professionals. If you or someone else involved in the accident received a minor injury, check in with your general practitioner to determine what form of medical care you might need. 
• Your insurance company. Always contact your own insurance company, even if you are not at-fault for the accident. 

Should I Contact My Auto Insurance Company?  

Regardless of fault, you must report any accident to your insurance company. Even if you file a claim through the at-fault driver’s agency, most policies require you to inform them of any accidents. Notifying your agency allows them to coordinate with the at-fault driver’s insurer. 

Should I Contact the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company?

Instead of relying on the at-fault driver to report the accident, use the contact information provided at the time of your accident to report it. In at-fault states, the at-fault driver’s insurance company covers damages, including medical expenses and lost wages. 

When you contact the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you can file a claim. Note that the process can be complicated; a car accident lawyer can support your claim and expedite things. 

Should I File a Claim Online If the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Offers an Online Claim Option? 

Although it is more common to call the at-fault driver’s insurance company to file your claim, there may be an online claim option. Even though you are filing a claim with the other driver’s insurance company, if you run into issues filing a claim online, you can have your own insurance agent guide you through the details you need to supply on the form.

What if the At-Fault Driver Fails to Report the Accident?

What Should I Do If the At-Fault Driver Hasn’t Reported the Car Accident to Their Auto Insurance Company? 

There are a few steps you should take when the at-fault driver hasn’t reported the accident to their insurance company:  

• Often your police report will contain the name of the at-fault driver’s insurance company.  You have the right to contact the other driver’s insurance company to report the accident. 
• You should contact your own insurance company to see if there is any coverage that can help cover expenses from your accident. Your policy likely has either uninsured motorist coverage or collision coverage with which you can make a claim.  Additionally, your own insurance company will most likely take steps to locate the at-fault driver’s policy and pursue reimbursement of the damages they paid. 
• If and when you are unable to determine who the insurance company for the at-fault driver is, a qualified personal injury law firm can often locate the insurance on your behalf. 

Do I Report the Car Accident to My Health Insurance Company if I Was Injured? 

Regardless of who is at fault for your car accident, if possible, you can use your own health insurance. This is the fastest way for you to get the care you need. Your health insurance company will also document all of your expenditures, which can be useful evidence when filing a personal injury claim. 

Am I Required to Contact Both Insurance Companies After a Car Accident? 

Although you must contact your own insurance company after an accident, and you need to open a claim with the other driver’s insurance company you are not legally obligated to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. While they must be given the information necessary to process your claim (either by you or your attorney), you are not required to give them a statement about the accident. If they are requesting a recorded statement, the at-fault insurer is likely trying to protect their own bottom line, and any information you provide can be used against you.  Therefore, we recommend consulting with an attorney if you are being asked to give a written or recorded statement. 

What if the At-Fault Driver Begs Me Not to Report an Accident?

Should I Trust the At-Fault Driver If They Promise to Pay for the Injuries and Advise Me Not to Report the Accident to The Auto Insurance Company? 

Regardless of the severity of the accident, you should always get the contact and insurance information of the at-fault driver and report the accident to yours and the other driver’s insurance company. If you are injured or there is damage to your car, not getting the insurance information or filing a claim can carry both civil and criminal penalties. Do not let another driver pressure you into making a decision that you will regret later on.  If the accident is not your fault, your own insurance company is unlikely to hold it against you.