If you are like most people, you have not spent a lot of time considering what you would do if you were in a car accident. You may have heard that you should always contact your insurance provider after an accident, but is this really the best option? This guide will explore this question and weigh the pros and cons of calling your insurance provider.
More Important Steps
First things first, however, there are a wide range of other things you should always do before considering whether you should contact your insurance provider. The very first steps you should do after an accident are:
- Make sure no one is hurt and call 911 if there were any injuries
- Evaluate whether the vehicles block traffic and move them to the side of the road only if it can be done safely
- Exchange insurance and contact information with everyone involved in the accident
- Get the contact information from any witnesses and take pictures of the accident
Once you have done all these things, you can think about whether calling your insurance provider is a good idea.
Calling Your Insurance Provider
The safest thing to do is to contact your insurance provider immediately. Even if you plan to file a lawsuit against whoever caused the accident and get compensated that way, it is almost always a good idea to call your insurance provider first. Winning your case is not guaranteed or a lawsuit may become less viable later. If getting compensation through a lawsuit does not pan out, you should have already started an insurance claim. If you wait too long after the accident to file a claim, your insurance provider may no longer be able to help you.
The only reason you might want to consider not calling your insurance provider is if you are 100 percent confident that you will file a lawsuit and win your lawsuit. Seeking compensation exclusively through a lawsuit may prevent your insurance rates from increasing. However, this is a big risk. Additionally, your insurance company may find out about the accident anyway, which may result in your rates increasing anyway.
If you feel like your best option is to avoid telling your insurance company about the accident, you should speak with an attorney to confirm that this option is viable for you. An attorney may strongly advise you to file an insurance claim alongside your lawsuit. Generally, the sooner you speak with an attorney, like a car accident lawyer in Manitowoc, WI, the better your situation will be.
Thank you to the experts at Hickey & Turim SC for their insight into calling your insurance provider after a car accident.
