Brian White | March 28, 2018 | Insurance Claims
If you or a loved one recently suffered an injury or damage in a car accident, one of the first steps you will take is filing a car insurance claim, so you can receive compensation for any damage. Texas law allows victims of negligence to collect compensation from an at-fault driver’s insurance policy, but you also must file a claim with your own policy.
If you have Esurance, take the following steps to protect your accident claim following a Texas car accident:
Immediately Following an Accident
The first moments following a car accident are chaotic, but you can respond more efficiently if you know what to expect. First, pull your vehicles over to the side of the road and assess each passenger and driver for injuries. If there are any injuries, call 911 immediately. Safety takes top priority, regardless of who holds the insurance policy.
If you alert emergency services, the dispatcher will automatically send the police as well as an ambulance. However, if you don’t call 911, you’ll have to place a call to your local police department. In many big cities, the police will only report to the scene of an accident if someone reports an injury, so prepare to report to the police station to file a report if you’re only dealing with property damage. Either way, a police report is essential to your Esurance claim.
Gather Necessary Information From the Other Driver
While waiting for the police to arrive, get information from the other driver and any witnesses. Get his or her name, phone number, driver’s license number, and insurance policy information. If possible, get the name and number of the driver’s insurance agent. Also, get names and numbers from any witnesses at the accident scene.
Be polite to the other driver, but don’t offer too much information. Remain calm and get only the information you need. Once you have this information, remain by your vehicle, and wait for the police to arrive.
Last, take pictures of both vehicles and the damage from multiple angles. Take pictures of the other vehicle’s license plate and make note of the make and model of the car.
Filing the Police Report
If the police arrive on the scene, provide a detailed statement of the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident. If you must file a report at the station, do so as soon as possible. Once you have the badge number and contact information from the responding officer, it’s time to contact Esurance and begin the claims notification process.
Although you may end up filing a claim with the at-fault driver, your first step always to contact your own insurance agent. Be prepared to provide information about the crash, contact information, and any information from the police report – for example, the responding officer’s name and badge number. Also, have the name and contact information of any witnesses handy.
Once you provide this information to your claims agent, the company will notify you of your next steps. If you were injured and you have personal injury protection (PIP) on your policy, the agent will walk you through the process of receiving compensation for your medical bills. If the police report notes that the other driver is at fault, you may complete the rest of your claim with his or her insurance company. The agent will provide you with further details based on the circumstance of your accident.
Knowing what to expect from the claims process can help expedite your accident claim and reduce the stress of being in a car crash. Follow these steps to file a car accident claim with Esurance and get back on the road sooner.
Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help
For more information, contact the Houston car accident law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers
3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350
Houston, TX 77098
United States
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – East Fwy
11811 East Fwy, Suite 630-06
Houston, TX 77029
United States
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2600 S Loop W, Suite 293
Houston, TX 77054
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