Texas Auto Insurance Claims Tips and Tricks

To help make the claim process go smoothly, follow these tips:

• Get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, and license plate number. Write down the exact name of the other driver’s insurance company, the company’s phone number, and the policy number. To save time, take a picture of the other driver’s insurance card. If the other driver refuses to tell you the name of his or her insurance company, call the police.
• Give the other driver the same information about you.
• Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident. Give this information to the insurance company. Independent witnesses can help prove fault if you were in an accident caused by another driver. If you don’t have witnesses and the other driver denies fault, his or her insurance company might deny your claim.
• Call the police if you were hit by a driver who left the scene. Your uninsured motorist coverage won’t pay for a hit-and-run accident if you didn’t report it to police.
• Call the police if anyone was injured.
• Note the time, date, and exact location of the accident. Also record any special circumstance like weather and road conditions. Take pictures of the accident scene. Give this information to the insurance company.
• Tell your company about the accident as soon as possible. Most companies have deadlines for filing claims. Your insurance card should have a number you can call to report claims. Explain what happened and answer questions as thoroughly as possible.
• Send the company copies of the police accident report. It usually takes a few days for the police offer to file a report. Get the officer’s name and badge number so you can follow up if you need to.
• Tell the company if you were injured. If you went to the emergency room or to a doctor, give the company copies of the medical reports and doctors’ bills.