If you have had an automobile accident, you will likely want to file an auto accident insurance claim with your own car insurance company, the other driver’s insurance company, or both. Once you make a claim, a Claims Adjuster, Insurance Adjuster, or Claims Representative will contact you. These are all different names for the same thing; this is the person who will get all of the information from you about your accident, determine if there is coverage under your policy, gather the facts, do the investigation to determine who was at fault, decide on the value of your auto accident insurance claim, and, if everything goes as planned, pay you. The process isn’t complicated, but if you’ve never gone through it before, there are some important things you need to know.

Whether it is your insurance company’s adjuster or the other driver’s, many of the questions asked and documents requested will be the same. They will want to know what happened, the people and vehicles involved, what was damaged, and if anyone was injured. They’ll want photos taken of your vehicle and an estimate for the damages, a copy of the police report if there is one, and contact information for any witnesses.

Some of the questions both insurance company adjusters will ask are:
• What happened in the accident?
• Where did it occur?
• Who was driving?
• Any passengers in the vehicle? Names/contact information/ages?
• Was a policeman called to the scene? Did the officer prepare a report?
• What vehicles were involved? Makes, models, years, colors, registered owners?
• Were the vehicles damaged? What parts? Were the cars drivable?
• Was anyone injured? Did anyone leave by ambulance?
• Any witnesses? Contact information?
• Does the other party have insurance? Insurance company name and contact information?

Beyond these questions, there are some differences between not just what the insurance company will ask, but the attitude they take depending on whether it is your own insurance company or the other driver’s. Of course your own insurance adjuster will want to know if you were injured and will ask for details of your injury and treatment, but they are only responsible under your policy for paying your medical bills up to your policy limits. They do not, however, pay for your lost wages or your pain and suffering unless you live in a no-fault state.

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