In a car accident, whose insurance do you call?

Being in an accident  — or when your car is hit — is a stressful experience.

Whether you are at fault or not, it’s difficult to know what to do first. You are probably asking yourself, “What should I do right now?”

Insurance is another big worry. You may want the answer to several questions. Such as, “If my car was hit, whose insurance do I call? Should I file a claim with my auto insurance or theirs?” Or, “If someone hit my parked car, can I get reimbursed for the repairs?”

Knowing what to do, what your insurance covers, and who’s at fault are all part of understanding your car insurance policy. This guide is here to help. Keep reading to find out what to do if you’re in an accident and whose insurance you should call.

You can also get quotes from top car insurance companies in your area before you do anything else. Buy car insurance by entering your ZIP code in our free tool to find a top car insurance company near you.

What to Do if Your Car is Hit

What do you do when someone hits your car?

First, call the police. After that, call your car insurance and if the other driver is still there, they should call their insurance company.

Give your insurance information to the other driver, too. Sometimes there is a disagreement about who caused the accident, so in that case, your insurance companies will have to decide.

Contact your insurance company even if you think the damage is not serious. The other driver might decide later to try to file a claim against you.

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What about insurance after my car gets hit?

Most people are afraid to contact their insurance company after an accident because they think the insurance company may raise their rates or if the accident was their fault. No matter what, and no matter how minor you think the hit might be, always contact your insurance company.

If the other driver admits they were at fault, you can file a claim with their insurance company, called a third-party claim. The other driver’s liability policy will cover the cost of repairs to your car. You can also inform your insurance company that you filed a third-party claim.

What should I do if someone hit my car and drove off?

Most times you can identify the other person in a collision since they should stay to exchange information. Unfortunately, sometimes the other driver leaves the scene or you get to your parked car and see it’s been hit.

You can look to see if any witnesses saw the accident. If anyone saw what happened, write their contact information down so you have a chance of finding the driver. You may also check nearby businesses for any security camera footage.

What type of insurance will protect me if my car is damaged?

The best type of insurance to have if you get hit is collision coverage. So what is collision coverage on car insurance?

The clue is in its name. Collision car insurance covers your car if it is damaged in an accident. If you have this kind of coverage, the insurance company will pay for the repairs in a covered accident.

Collision coverage can even help you if the other driver is at fault. If that driver’s insurance only goes up to the state’s minimum liability, your collision coverage kicks in. Your insurance company pays the balance for your car’s repairs.

You may be curious as to how much collision coverage will cost. Here is an average of what you could expect to pay annually for collision car insurance.

As you can see, it can be pretty affordable, especially if you shop around and compare quotes online.

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Case Studies: Understanding Car Insurance After an Accident

Case Study 1: Rear-End Collision

John was driving his car when he was rear-ended by another driver at a stop sign. He immediately contacted the police and provided them with the necessary information. John called his own insurance company to report the accident and filed a claim. Since the other driver was clearly at fault, John’s insurance company determined that the other driver’s insurance would cover the cost of repairs.

Case Study 2: Hit-and-Run Incident

Samantha discovered that her parked car had been hit while she was shopping. Unfortunately, there were no witnesses around. She immediately contacted the police to file a report and informed her insurance company about the hit-and-run incident. Even though the responsible driver couldn’t be identified, Samantha’s collision coverage came into play. 

Case Study 3: Disputed Liability

Mike and Lisa were involved in a collision where both drivers claimed the other was at fault. They contacted the police and exchanged insurance information. Mike called his insurance company to report the accident, while Lisa did the same with her own insurer. Since liability was disputed, both insurance companies conducted investigations. Eventually, it was determined that Mike was at fault. 

Whose Insurance Do I Call? The Bottom Line

Hopefully, this guide has given you all the tools you need to know what to do when your car is hit.

Now that you have an idea of the steps to take after an accident, you can find affordable insurance. Our free tool makes it easy to check car insurance rates from top companies near you. Just enter your ZIP code now.

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