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How long do I have to report an accident to my insurance company?
I got into a car accident 2 days ago and haven't filed a claim yet. How long do I have to report my accident to insurance?
Carlos Kirby · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear about your accident. You probably have a lot on your plate right now, but if you can, you should
report your accident
to your insurance company ASAP. Many companies just say that you need to file a car accident claim “promptly” without listing a specific deadline. You should be okay to call a few days after the accident in this case.
Still, it’s important to report an accident to your provider as soon as possible so they can begin their investigation process and get you your payout more quickly.
A few providers, however, will give you as little as 24 hours to start the claims filing process. With any provider, claims may be denied if they are filed later than the insurer deems reasonable.
If you’re not at-fault and looking to file a lawsuit, all states have statutes of limitations that require you to initiate legal action within a certain timeframe. Those time limits also depend on whether your claim has to do with personal property damage or bodily injury.
If you’re looking to switch insurance companies after this ordeal is over,
Jerry
can make the process hassle-free. Just enter a few pieces of information and you’ll be able to compare your current policy to dozens of competitive quotes.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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