How To Report Accidents To Insurance Companies (2026)

When Do You Need to Report an Accident?

Each state has its own laws concerning when you must report an accident to the police, the Department of Motor Vehicles or both. However, not everyone realizes that your contractual obligations for reporting car accidents to insurance can be — and often are — different from the legal requirements to report.

Many car insurance contracts require you to report any accident, even if it seems like there is no damage. Some policyholders hesitate to report because they are afraid of their premiums going up. However, reporting an accident doesn’t typically impact your premiums; only filing a claim does that. There are a number of reasons to report minor accidents:

• Injuries and property damage may not be evident right after the accident
• If your insurer finds out about the accident, your policy may be terminated
• If you decide you want to file a claim at a later date, you’ll likely be denied coverage

While it’s always better to report to your insurance company, you may not always be required to report accidents to your local police. Make sure you’re familiar with your state’s laws for reporting accidents.

Reporting an Accident to Insurance: Who Do You Call?

If you’ve just been involved in an accident, you know you need to notify an insurance company. But do you need to notify your own insurance company? The other driver’s insurance? Both?

You should notify your own car insurance no matter what. Whether you need to notify the other driver’s insurance will depend on whether you need to file a first-party claim or a third-party claim.

First-Party Claims

A first-party claim is a claim against your own insurance policy. For example, if you are at fault for an accident and you damaged your car, you would need to make a first-party claim against your collision insurance. If you aren’t filing a claim with the other driver’s insurance policy, there’s no need for you to notify their insurer.

Third-Party Claims

A third-party claim is a claim against another driver’s policy. For example, if you were injured and the other driver was at fault, you would need to file a third-party claim against their liability insurance. In this case, you would need to notify the other driver’s insurance before filing a claim.

What Insurance Information to Give in an Accident

You may have heard that you should exchange insurance information after auto accidents. That’s because you may need the other driver’s insurance information if you have to file a third-party claim. The insurance information you’ll need to exchange includes the following:

• Your full name
• Your phone number
• Your policy number
• The policy start date and end date
• The accident date and time
• Your driver’s license number
• Your license plate number

In the aftermath of an accident, writing down information like this can be challenging — and you may be more likely to make a mistake. In many cases, it’s easier to just take a photo of the other driver’s license, insurance card and license plate. Make sure that all letters and numbers are visible in the photos you take.

How to Report Accidents to Insurance: What to Say

When you report an accident, you’re not filing a claim. That means you don’t have to immediately present evidence. However, you do need to give the insurer some information.

This is where things can get tricky. Insurance companies will often look for any reason to deny coverage, and insurers who rely on bad faith tactics may deliberately misconstrue what you say to undermine your claim. To reduce the risk of that happening, you should avoid volunteering information.

Here are some tips for how to report accidents to insurance:

Stick to the Facts

When describing the accident, do your best to remain factual and avoid exaggerating or speculating.

Don’t Give Written or Recorded Statements

Insurance companies often use these statements against you. You should refuse to give any written or recorded statements until you talk to a lawyer.

Don’t Give Details of Injuries Until You See a Doctor

If you’re injured, you will need to tell the insurance company that an injury exists. However, you should never self-diagnose or attempt to give details. Your insurance company may use anything you say about your injury against you.

For example, imagine you tell the insurer, “My arm is injured, but I think it’s just a bad bruise.” Once you see a doctor, you learn that your arm is broken and needs surgery. In this case, the insurance company might try to deny your claim.

Don’t Agree to a Settlement

Many insurance companies try to get customers to agree to an immediate settlement. They do this because many people accept initial lowball offers. By the time they’ve learned they could have received more, it’s too late. You should never accept any offer of compensation before it’s been reviewed by a lawyer.

Have You Been Hurt in a Car Accident?

If you suffered injuries in a car accident, you should consider contacting a car accident lawyer. You might have trouble getting the insurance company to pay your claim on your own. The right attorney may be able to advocate for you and help you recover the compensation you deserve.

If you’re like many people injured in car accidents, you may be unsure of where or how to find an attorney. Fortunately, we can help. ConsumerShield helps match people like you to qualified attorneys nearby. Fill out our form for a free case review.