What is the process for reporting a car accident to insurance?
2 Answers
Here is the insurance process after a car accident occurs: 1. Notify the insurance company: After an insurance incident occurs, the policyholder should promptly notify the insurance company of the incident's time, location, cause, extent of losses, policy number, insured subject matter, insurance type and category, and policy duration. If the insured subject matter is damaged in a different location, the policyholder should report the incident to the original insurance company and its local branch or agent in the accident area. Before the insurance company arrives at the accident scene, the policyholder should take necessary rescue measures and organize the damaged insured subject matter. For fires or motor vehicle accidents, the policyholder should follow the on-site instructions of the fire department or traffic police at the scene. 2. Undergo insurance company inspection: The policyholder should allow the insurance company or its authorized personnel (such as insurance agents or inspection agencies) to inspect the damaged insured subject matter at the accident scene and provide all necessary assistance to ensure the insurance company accurately determines the cause of the accident and confirms the extent of damage and loss amount. 3. Submit a claim application and provide claim documents: The policyholder should submit a claim application to the insurance company in accordance with relevant laws and the insurance contract, along with the required claim documents. The policyholder should promptly report the incident to the local public security department and submit an "accident notification" to the insurance company within 24 hours of the accident.
After that accident, I was quite panicked, but I remembered my friend's advice: first pull over to the side of the road and turn on the hazard lights, check if anyone is injured, and if there are injuries, immediately call 120 for help. If it's not serious, call 110 or 122 to report the accident, clearly state the accident location, and wait for the police to arrive. The police will record the scene and issue an accident report. I didn’t forget to take various photos with my phone, such as the damage to the front and rear of the car, license plate numbers, and road marks, to help with future proof. Then, I quickly contacted the insurance company’s hotline, told them the time and location, and briefly explained the situation. They gave me a claim number to note down. I also exchanged contact information and license plate numbers with the other driver, avoiding arguments about fault to prevent conflicts. Later, the insurance company arranged for me to go to a designated repair shop for damage assessment and repairs. Throughout the process, I avoided signing anything hastily and stayed calm to prevent additional issues. It’s advisable to back up the scene records and contact information on your phone for follow-up.
