The Department of Transportation in Wisconsin registered 11, 892 motor vehicle accidents in Dane county in 2019. Car crashes are common, so it is vital that you know what to do after a collision to get coverage for your expenses.

Right after the accident

If you are able, the first thing you should do is to check on all people who were involved in the crash. After you have made sure that everyone is okay, you need to do the following:

• Exchange numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers and basic insurance information with the drivers involved in the crash.
• Get witnesses’ names, numbers and addresses and ask them what they saw.
• Take pictures of your vehicle’s damage.

If a person has injuries and one of the vehicles has considerable damage, call the police. The police will complete the crash report that the state requires. If you don’t call the police, you will receive a letter from the Department of Transportation, and you will have to complete the crash report by yourself.

Following steps

You should always go to the hospital first even if you don’t have evident injuries. Health comes before making any insurance claim. After getting examined by a doctor, write down their name and ask them for copies of your medical records and bills. You will need this information as proof for your medical expenses.

When possible, inform your insurance company about the accident with clear facts. Be brief and do not answer any follow-up questions. Usually, you need to notify the insurance company about the crash within 24 hours of the accident. If you were not at fault for the accident, you will have to contact the other driver’s insurance company.

The insurance company will ask you to provide evidence of the crash. Also, they will ask for an independent medical examination. After the insurance company reviews your case, they will calculate the value of your claim and issue a settlement check.

Insurance denials

The insurance company will take any reason to deny your claim, so they may do it if you take too long to report the accident or fail to submit the independent medical examination that they ordered. However, insurance denials do not mean you will not get compensation for your injuries. You can appeal the insurance company’s claim if you believe they were unfair. Every insurance company has its different appeal procedures, so review their policy to know what to do next.