What information should I necessarily gather in case I'm in a car accident with another party and I want to file a claim?
Total Comments: 4
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 08:04 pm Post Subject:
Their contact information (I'd obtain it from their drivers lic) and insurance information (obtain it from their insurance card). If they are not willing to show you these items, I'd call the police. If they simply want to write that info down you have no way of knowing it's correct.
On your own I'd also obtain their tag number and VIN from under their windshield. Most people have cameras on their phones. Take a picture of their drivers lic and insurance card as well as the vehicle's in the accident.
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 03:02 am Post Subject:
Excellent advice from tcope, as always!
Don't forget to record the time, date, location, and names and contact information for any witnesses.
I would simply add, in addition to the VIN and license number, the make, model, and color of the vehicle. You never know . . .
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 04:26 pm Post Subject:
If it’s an accident involving another vehicle and you have called in the police, make sure you take down the officers badge number as well as the report number that he writes up. The more information you can provide your carrier with, the better.
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 06:34 pm Post Subject:
Good information from Heller, but insurance companies don't have to agree with police reports when it comes to attributing liability and paying claims. A police report may or may not be valuable. And reports are not always written either. If there are no injuries, and damage is relatively minor (both cars are drivable), there might not be anything other than the "officer-mediated" exchange of information.
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 08:04 pm Post Subject:
Their contact information (I'd obtain it from their drivers lic) and insurance information (obtain it from their insurance card). If they are not willing to show you these items, I'd call the police. If they simply want to write that info down you have no way of knowing it's correct.
On your own I'd also obtain their tag number and VIN from under their windshield. Most people have cameras on their phones. Take a picture of their drivers lic and insurance card as well as the vehicle's in the accident.
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 03:02 am Post Subject:
Excellent advice from tcope, as always!
Don't forget to record the time, date, location, and names and contact information for any witnesses.
I would simply add, in addition to the VIN and license number, the make, model, and color of the vehicle. You never know . . .
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 04:26 pm Post Subject:
If it’s an accident involving another vehicle and you have called in the police, make sure you take down the officers badge number as well as the report number that he writes up. The more information you can provide your carrier with, the better.
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 06:34 pm Post Subject:
Good information from Heller, but insurance companies don't have to agree with police reports when it comes to attributing liability and paying claims. A police report may or may not be valuable. And reports are not always written either. If there are no injuries, and damage is relatively minor (both cars are drivable), there might not be anything other than the "officer-mediated" exchange of information.
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