Knowing what to do – and what not to do – when in an accident is important in getting the facts straight and moving the claim process along. Here we’ll clear up some misinformation if you or your drivers are involved in a vehicular accident.
I should report an accident to my insurance agent, not my insurance company.
Fact: Report all claims to your insurance company and agent, who will help manage the claim and advocate on your behalf.
I shouldn’t report an accident until I get the police report.
Fact: You should report all accidents to the insurance company immediately. If possible, call from the scene of the accident. Police reports might take months to process, and important evidence and witnesses may no longer be available by the time they’re received. After you report the accident, a claims adjuster will contact you and review all the information needed to proceed with the claim.
If an accident occurs after hours, on Saturday or Sunday, or over a holiday, I should wait to report the claim until the next business day.
Fact: Report the claim right away regardless of when it occurs. Claims can be reported online after hours or over the weekend. If the claim is not urgent, the insurance company will determine whether to wait until business hours to call you.
I think the accident is no big deal and the damage seems to be less than my deductible, so I’ll deal with it myself instead of contacting the insurance company.
Fact: Even if you don’t think the accident is serious enough to warrant getting the insurance company involved, not reporting the claim could come back to bite you. If you or one of your drivers is involved in an accident with another vehicle, the third party could potentially claim injuries later on. When you report a claim, you receive the experience of adjusters and, if necessary, a legal team to help you down the road.
The accident isn’t my fault, so there is no need to report it to the insurance company.
Fact: Don’t risk the possibility of a he-said, she-said situation. You may end up on the receiving end of a lawsuit. Trucking companies are often victims of people looking for a payday. In addition, if you don’t report the claim, crucial evidence to defend you will be lost.
My drivers can wait until they return to the office to report accidents.
Fact: Again, have your driver call you and the insurance company immediately if they are involved in an accident. The driver is often the best person with the most information to report a claim so our adjusters can get the facts and evidence they need to resolve the claim.
About Western Truck Insurance Services
Western Truck Insurance Services is an insurance brokerage specializing in commercial truck insurance. We know this stuff and want to make sure you do too. Our clients appreciate our dedication to finding competitive rates and offering unparalleled service beyond excellent insurance options. They also value how our state-of-the-art automation provides lightning-fast truck insurance quotes, customer service, insurance certificates, and coverage changes. Contact us today at (800) 937-8785 to learn more.