You should still contact your insurance company if you get into a car accident that wasn’t your fault. Some insurance companies require their policyholders to report any accident their insured vehicle was involved in, regardless of fault. There are also several potential benefits of calling your insurance company to report the accident and tell your side of the story.
If you were injured in the car accident and don’t have the time or energy to deal with insurance companies, a car accident attorney could talk to the insurance companies for you. They can also assist you with seeking the compensation you need to cover your damages.
Benefits of Calling Your Insurance Company After a Car Accident
Even if the accident wasn’t your fault, you could still experience benefits by informing your insurance company. These benefits include:
Your Policy May Require Accident Notification
Some insurance companies require their insured parties to report all accidents, regardless of fault. If you fail to report an accident, you may breach your contract with your insurance company, putting your coverage at risk.
Your Policy May Offer Coverage for the Accident
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, drivers in Texas must have liability insurance coverage or otherwise prove they can pay for accidents they cause. However, you can also purchase several additional types of insurance that may help you after a crash, even if it wasn’t your fault. For example:
- Collision coverage may pay to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident.
- Medical payments coverage or personal injury protection (PIP) may pay for your medical bills if you were injured in the accident.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may pay for your damages if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
- Towing and labor coverage may help pay for the costs of towing your car.
- Rental reimbursement coverage may cover the cost of a rental car while yours is being repaired.
If your policy has any of these coverage types, contacting your insurance company to learn about your options can be beneficial.
The Other Driver Could Dispute Fault
Even if you are 100% sure the other driver is at fault for the accident, they may deny liability to avoid paying for your damages. If they claim you caused the accident, your insurance company needs to be aware of the situation.
What Should I Tell My Insurance Company After the Accident?
You must be careful what you say to any insurance company—including yours. Having a car accident attorney on your side may greatly benefit your case in this situation, as they can speak to the insurance companies on your behalf and ensure you don’t tell the insurance company anything that may harm your claim.
If you call your insurance company after the accident, you should keep it brief and stick to the facts. For example, you could give them:
- The contact information for everyone involved in the accident, including names, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, and car makes and models
- Insurance information for other involved drivers
- Information about the law enforcement officer who came to the scene, including their name and badge number
- Basic information about the accident, such as the time and day it happened
- Basic information about your injuries and damage to your vehicle
While at the accident scene, take notes on your phone, take pictures, or write information down so you can remember it. If you cannot collect this information because of your injuries, don’t worry—your attorney can help you with this process later.
Do I Need to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer After the Accident?
While hiring a car accident lawyer after an accident is not mandatory, it may help your case significantly. If you connect with a lawyer before calling your insurance company, your personal injury attorney can ensure you don’t say anything that could hurt your case.
Other benefits of hiring an attorney after a car accident that wasn’t your fault include the following:
- In addition to alerting your insurance company about the accident, they can also speak to the at-fault party’s insurance company and notify them of your intent to file a claim.
- They can investigate the accident to prove liability. Sometimes, the at-fault party won’t admit they caused the accident, or their insurance company won’t compensate you fairly for your damages. In these events, your attorney could investigate to gather the needed evidence to prove who caused the accident.
- They can calculate the damages you could recover based on your losses. Losses you could incur include lost income, medical expenses, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
- They can use their negotiation skills to seek a fair settlement that covers all your losses.
- If applicable, they can ensure you file your personal injury lawsuit before the statute of limitations deadline. In Texas, the deadline is generally two years from the accident date, per Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.
When you hire an attorney to take on your case, you won’t have to deal with legal issues.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
Fortunately, most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay them upfront for their help with your case. At the end of the case, if you reach a successful outcome, they will take a small percentage of the compensation you recover.
Get Help From a Car Accident Attorney Today
If you want legal representation to help you call your insurance company after an accident that wasn’t your fault, you can count on our car accident attorneys at Loncar Lyon Jenkins. We can handle all communications with insurance companies involved in the accident. By not having to speak to insurance companies, you can focus your time on healing from your injuries.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We can inform you of steps to take after the accident and provide support through the claims process.
