Should I Tell My Car Insurance Company About the Accident?
Reporting a Car Accident to Your Own Insurance Company
Yes — you should notify your own insurance company promptly after a car accident in Pennsylvania. Most auto policies include a cooperation clause that requires you to report accidents in a timely manner as a condition of coverage. Failing to report can jeopardize your ability to use your own policy’s coverages, including collision, UM/UIM, MedPay, and first-party benefits.
That said, there is an important distinction between reporting the accident to your own insurer and giving a detailed recorded statement before you’ve spoken with an attorney.
What You Should and Shouldn’t Say
When you report the accident to your own insurer, you should:
- Provide basic factual information: the date, time, location, the vehicles involved, and the names of the parties
- State that you were injured and are receiving medical attention
- Confirm that you intend to make a claim under the relevant coverages
You should avoid, at least until you’ve spoken with an attorney:
- Giving a detailed recorded statement about exactly how the accident happened
- Making statements about fault or apologies
- Discussing the severity of your injuries before treatment is complete and the full extent of harm is known
What About the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?
You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Their adjuster’s job is to minimize what their company pays, and recorded statements are a tool for doing exactly that. Statements you make about how the accident happened — or about your injuries — can be used to assign you more fault or downplay the severity of your harm. You can politely decline to give a recorded statement to the adverse insurer and refer them to your attorney.
The Erie car accident attorneys at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. advise clients on exactly what to say and what not to say in the critical period after an accident. Contact us for a free consultation before speaking with any insurance adjuster in detail.
