In the minutes after a car accident in Pennsylvania, you may not be thinking straight. You might have an injury or be distracted due to the situation. However, it is important to try to keep your wits about you. You do not want to make a wrong move in these moments that could affect your insurance claim. After all, once the dust settles on your accident, getting the insurer to handle your claim will become the top priority.
To avoid issues, AAA recommends always contact law enforcement first before you do anything else at the accident scene. You need them to create a report of the accident. This will serve as evidence for the insurance company.
The next thing you need to do is contact your insurance company. This is true even if you were not at fault in the accident. Your insurer will help you with the claims process and ensure that the right party pays for the damages. They will also investigate the crash. While waiting for the investigation to complete, you should track your claim to make sure it keeps moving along. This will also help you stay aware of anything you may have to do to help complete the investigation.
Once the investigation ends, you should get a determination. At this point, you can accept the offer from your insurer or the other party’s insurer, or you can begin negotiations to try to get a better settlement. The claim process is not complete until you reach an agreement. This information is for education. It does not constitute legal advice.