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How long after an accident can you file a claim?
I was involved in a car accident three days ago. I wasn’t at fault. However, I had to wait a bit to get the police report, and now I’m worried that I’m not going to be able to file a claim in time. How much time do you have after an accident to file a claim?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
After an accident, you can file a claim years after an accident. But generally speaking,
car insurance providers
require drivers to report an accident as soon as possible. While this timeframe is typically 30 days, reporting an accident and filing a claim aren’t the same thing. Every state has a statute of limitations for filing a claim. Most states give you two to three years, but states like Rhode Island, for instance, give drivers up to 10 years to file a claim.
However, the sooner you file the claim, the quicker you will get a payout—and the easier it is to provide proof of non-fault. The longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to get a quick payout on your vehicle.
In all likelihood, your
insurance rates will go up after you file a claim
, so you may want to shop around to find a better deal on coverage. Jerry
lets you compare quotes all in one place so you can find the most affordable insurance option in less than a minute.After you find a great rate, Jerry can help you buy new insurance and cancel your old policy. Users save an average of $800+ per year.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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