After an accident your deadline to file a claim changes depending on the state you reside in and the insurance policy you have. You have 10 days to file a police report in most states. Most policies and states require a police report to file.
In a crash, there are a few different factors that go into what you file for. Usually, your insurance company has multiple options when you file a claim. It's essential to understand when to file each of these options.
The time frame required to make a claim after an accident varies from state to state, and even policy to policy. The unspoken guideline is that 24 hours is a good window. However, make sure you have your police report and any other required documents to make your claim.
The time frame for police reports is less lenient. Most, if not all states, tell you to file the report right away. The quicker you file your report, the faster you can make an insurance claim. For most states, the maximum number of days you can wait is 10.
In general, waiting to file a claim isn't a good idea. However, in some cases, it may be smart to wait a bit. Some injuries may take time to show up. Internal car damages may not be visible until you drive the car again.
When filing a claim, it's best to have all the necessary information on hand. This eliminates having to stop the process and begin again once you've got it all.
If you wait too long to file your claim, the insurance company can deny you. They may feel you were trying to get one over on them or may have reason to believe the damage is from another incident. If you waited too long, you could miss the statute of limitations in your state to sue in court.
When it comes to car insurance, there are several factors to consider beyond monthly cost. A policy that covers you when you need it, has a low deductible, and offers several discounts can be hard to find - which is why we've done the work for you.
Get instant quotes tailored to your needs - fill out our short form, today!
