What Questions Do Car Insurance Companies Ask After an Accident?

After a car accident, drivers should report the incident to their insurance company. When they do this, the insurance company will begin investigating the accident. As part of this investigation, the insurance company will ask the parties involved questions about the crash. 

The insurance company or the at-fault party’s insurance provider could ask these questions, depending on the facts of your case and who was involved. Handling these interviews can be stressful, especially for drivers dealing with vehicle repairs, injuries, and other disruptions after an accident. 

To help make this process as stress-free as possible, here’s a look at what questions car insurance companies ask after an accident. To learn more about the claims process after a car accident, contact GoAuto Insurance. 

What to Expect from Insurance Companies After a Car Accident

Following an accident, insurance companies begin a thorough investigation. There are two primary goals of this initial investigation: 

• Understand what happened and who was at fault
• Assess damages – including both property damage and injuries 

The initial interview can feel different depending on whether you’re dealing with your insurance company or the at-fault party’s insurance company. If another driver’s insurance company is interviewing you, remember that their goal is to minimize the value of your claim. 

You can expect them to ask to record your conversation. They also might ask questions to try to show that you were partly at fault for the accident. While you need to answer questions about what happened, you don’t have to answer all questions. For example: 

• You do not have to give a recorded statement. 
• You do not have to sign a medical release authorization. 
• You do not have to discuss your past medical history or pre-existing conditions. 

If you’re uncomfortable with the questions, you can contact your car insurance company. They can advise you on how to deal with difficult questions and give you advice about handling the claim. 

Questions Insurance Companies Ask After an Accident 

The initial goal of insurance companies is to understand what happened. To do that, they’ll ask you specific questions about the accident. You should expect questions about: 

• The vehicle you were driving: You’ll be asked the make, model, VIN, and registration number of the vehicle you were driving during the accident.
• Other vehicles involved in the accident. The insurance company will also ask for information about other vehicles involved in the accident, including the make, model, and license plate number. 
• Insurance companies want to know about every person involved in the accident. This includes other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
• When the accident happened: The insurance company will ask when and where the accident happened. If you can’t remember the exact time, that’s okay. It’s better to say that you can’t remember than to try to guess. 
• What happened in the accident: You will be asked about what happened in the accident and the events leading up to it. Insurance companies are gathering facts, so they want as many details as possible about what happened before and during the crash. 
• What damage you incurred: Be prepared for questions about damage to your vehicle and necessary repairs. You will also be asked about injuries you suffered during the accident. 
• Whether there is a police report: Insurance companies want to ensure they have copies of all reports relating to the accident. They will ask you if you contacted the police after the accident and whether or not a police report was filed. 
• A statement of what happened: While it’s common to get very specific questions, you should also expect a general question asking for a statement of what happened. This simply involves you telling everything you can remember about the accident and the events leading up to the accident. 
• Whether there were eyewitnesses: Eyewitnesses can provide helpful information after a car accident. Insurance companies want to know whether there were any eyewitnesses and any contact information available for witnesses. 

While this interview can feel daunting, keep in mind that it’s used to gather information about your accident so the insurance company can determine the next steps for processing your claim. Your car insurance company can help prepare you for talking to other companies and can answer any questions you have about the claims process. 

Contact GoAuto to Learn More 

If you have questions about car insurance or the claims process, the team at GoAuto Insurance can help. We pride ourselves on offering superior customer service and always being available to meet our customers’ needs. 

We understand that dealing with car insurance claims can be stressful, so we’re here to support drivers every step of the way. Call us today to learn more or request a free quote online.