Your insurer will assign a claims adjuster, inspect the damage, and determine who pays based on your policy and state law
After you report an accident, your insurance company assigns someone called a claims adjuster to your case. This person investigates what happened, reviews your policy, and decides whether the damage is covered and how much the company will pay. The timeline from report to payment typically ranges from a few days to several weeks, depending on the accident's complexity and whether fault is disputed.
What happens next depends on three things: your policy type, whether you or the other driver caused the accident, and your state's insurance laws. If you caused the accident and have collision coverage, your insurer pays for your car's repairs minus your deductible. If the other driver caused it and their insurance accepts liability, their company pays instead. If neither driver has insurance or fault is unclear, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may step in.
Key Takeaways
- Report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours, and provide a clear account of what happened.
- A claims adjuster will contact you, inspect your vehicle, and review police reports or witness statements to determine fault and coverage.
- Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket; your insurer covers the rest if the damage is covered under your policy.
- Your rates may increase after an at-fault accident, though the amount and timing vary by insurer and state.
- If the other driver is at fault, their liability insurance should pay for your repairs, but you may need to file a claim against their policy directly.
The claims process from report to repair authorization
Call your insurance company as soon as it is safe to do so after an accident. Most insurers have a 24-hour claims line. Have your policy number ready and be prepared to describe what happened, where, and when. Do not admit fault or speculate about what caused the accident—stick to the facts of what you saw and heard. The insurer will ask for the other driver's name, phone number, address, insurance company, and policy number if you have it.
Within one to three business days, a claims adjuster will contact you to schedule an inspection. They will examine your vehicle in person or, for minor damage, may ask you to submit photos and a repair estimate from a shop. The adjuster also pulls the police report (if one was filed), reviews any witness statements, and checks your driving record. Based on this investigation, they determine whether the accident is covered under your policy and whether you or the other driver is at fault.
Once the adjuster approves the claim, they authorize repairs and typically send payment directly to the repair shop. If you choose a shop your insurer does not have a relationship with, you may need to pay upfront and submit receipts for reimbursement. Some policies allow you to choose any repair shop; others steer you toward preferred providers. Check your policy documents or ask your adjuster what your options are.
How your deductible works and what you actually pay
Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay toward repairs before your insurance kicks in. Common deductibles are $500 or $1,000, though you can choose lower or higher amounts when you buy the policy. If your repair bill is $3,000 and your deductible is $500, you pay $500 and your insurer pays $2,500.
The deductible applies only to collision and comprehensive coverage—not to liability coverage, which pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or property. If you are not at fault for the accident, the other driver's liability insurance should cover your full repair bill with no deductible owed by you. However, you may need to file a claim directly against their policy to make this happen, and their insurer may take time to investigate before paying.
If the repair cost is less than your deductible, your insurance will not pay anything. For example, if repairs cost $400 and your deductible is $500, you pay the full $400 out of pocket. This is why some people choose lower deductibles—they pay less if an accident happens—but lower deductibles also mean higher monthly premiums.
Fault information and how it affects your claim
Your state's insurance laws determine how fault is assigned. In at-fault states, the driver who caused the accident is responsible for paying damages. In no-fault states, each driver's own insurance pays for their injuries and vehicle damage regardless of who caused the accident, though you can still sue the other driver in serious cases.
The claims adjuster investigates to determine fault using the police report, witness statements, photos, and the damage pattern on both vehicles. If the other driver is clearly at fault—for example, they ran a red light and hit you—their liability insurance should pay your claim. If fault is shared or unclear, the adjuster may assign a percentage of fault to each driver. Some states allow comparative negligence, meaning if you are found 20 percent at fault, the other driver's insurance pays 80 percent of your damages.
If you disagree with the fault information, you can dispute it. Ask your adjuster to explain their reasoning in writing. If you still disagree, you can file a complaint with your state's insurance commissioner or pursue a small claims lawsuit against the other driver. These steps take time and money, so most people accept the adjuster's decision unless the amount in dispute is substantial.
Rate increases and how long they typically last
If you are found at fault for an accident, your insurance rates will likely increase at your next renewal. The increase varies widely by insurer, state, and your driving history. Some companies raise rates by 10 to 25 percent after an at-fault accident; others may raise them more. A few insurers offer accident forgiveness programs that prevent a rate increase after your first accident, though you usually pay extra for this coverage.
The accident will stay on your driving record for three to five years in most states, though its impact on your rates typically decreases over time. After two or three years of clean driving, many insurers will lower your rates back toward their original level. Some states limit how much insurers can raise rates based on accidents, so check your state's insurance department website to learn the rules where you live.
If you are not at fault, your rates should not increase. If the other driver's insurance pays your claim, the accident may not appear on your record at all. However, if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured and you use your own collision coverage, your rates may still go up depending on your policy and insurer.
What to do if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured
If the other driver has no insurance or their policy limits are too low to cover your damages, your own uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage may pay the difference. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries and vehicle damage when hit by an uninsured driver. Underinsured motorist coverage kicks in when the other driver's liability limits do not cover your full damages.
To use this coverage, you file a claim with your own insurer and provide proof that the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. You will still pay your deductible. The process is similar to a regular collision claim, but it may take longer because your insurer has to investigate whether the other driver truly has no insurance. Many states require you to carry uninsured motorist coverage, though you can decline it in writing if your state allows it.
If you do not have this coverage and the other driver is uninsured, you are responsible for your own repairs. You can pursue a lawsuit against the other driver to recover damages, but collecting money from someone without insurance is often difficult. This is why carrying uninsured motorist coverage is important, especially in states where many drivers are uninsured.
Rental car coverage and other claim-related expenses
If your policy includes rental reimbursement coverage, your insurer will pay for a rental car while yours is being repaired. The coverage typically pays up to a daily limit—often $30 to $50 per day—for a certain number of days. You choose the rental company and car type, but the insurer only pays up to the limit in your policy.
Some policies also cover other accident-related costs, such as towing your vehicle to a repair shop or storage fees if the car cannot be repaired immediately. Check your policy documents to see what is included. If you incur expenses your policy does not cover, you can ask the at-fault driver's liability insurer to reimburse you, though they are not required to pay for anything beyond vehicle repairs and medical expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report an accident to my insurance company?
Most policies require you to report an accident as soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours. Waiting longer may give your insurer reason to deny the claim, especially if they believe you delayed reporting on purpose. Check your policy documents for the exact deadline, as it varies by insurer.
What if I do not have a police report?
A police report helps but is not always required. If police did not respond to the scene, you can still file a claim with your insurer. Take photos of the damage, get the other driver's contact and insurance information, and collect names and phone numbers of any witnesses. Your adjuster will use this information to investigate.
Can my insurer deny my claim because I was partially at fault?
It depends on your state's laws. In comparative negligence states, your insurer will still pay for your damages minus the percentage of fault assigned to you. In contributory negligence states, being even slightly at fault may bar you from recovery. Ask your adjuster how your state's rules apply to your accident.
Will my rates go up if the other driver is at fault?
No. If the other driver is found at fault and their insurance pays your claim, your rates should not increase. However, if you use your own collision coverage because the other driver is uninsured, your rates may go up depending on your insurer's policy.
What should I do if I disagree with the repair estimate?
You can get a second estimate from another repair shop and submit it to your adjuster. If the estimates differ significantly, the adjuster may send an independent appraiser to inspect the vehicle. You have the right to choose your own repair shop, though using an insurer-preferred shop may speed up the process.