Every year, there are an average of six million car accidents in the United States. While accidents will vary in cause and severity, for the most part, car accident insurance claims will have to filed in order to make sure that all of the repairs can be made to the vehicles involved. It can be a hassle, but it is a necessary step that drivers must take after getting into an accident. In order to make sure that they receive the most fair treatment possible, drivers should learn what to do and what not to do when making car accident insurance claims.

DO

1. Quickly Call Insurance Agency

It is important to call and make car accident insurance claims right away because that is when drivers will have fresh details of exactly what happened in their mind. This can go a long way towards making sure that the proper party has to pay for damages and, possibly, suffer legal ramifications for the accident.

2. Know Their Policy

Drivers should know their insurance policy before ever turning the key in their car so that they can be prepared if an accident happens. Because every driver is unique, there might not be two plans that are exactly identical, so they should regularly review their plan to know what is covered.

3. Document Accident Details

Collecting information about the other drivers involved in an accident is an important process for anyone who has been in an accident. While it might be a pain, getting names, contact information, license plate numbers, and insurance information from others is a must. And writing down the details of the accident could help when having to explain it in the future.

DO NOT

1. Admit Liability

Drivers should leave it up to the police and insurance agents to determine who is at fault. There are usually several factors that contribute to accidents, so taking blame could be a costly mistake for drivers.

2. Exaggerate Damages

At times, car owners might try to sneak a pre existing problem into the damage report after an accident to try to get it fixed for free. However, insurance fraud is a crime, and needs to be avoided. Being truthful about the extent of damages is the best way for drivers to make sure that their car is properly repaired.

3. Lie About Injuries

Insurance companies are likely to hire investigators to see if the injuries that a driver or passenger claims after an accident are real. Lying about injuries after an accident might cause a claim to be weakened or outright denied, so being honest is a must.