How to File a Car Insurance Claim After Accident in India?

• Get quotes from multiple insurers
• Choose from a variety of zero depreciation and roadside assistance covers
• 3100+ cashless garages

Car insurance is mandatory in India as per the Motor Vehicles Act. As per the rule, every car plying on the roads need to be insured with at least a third-party liability cover. Having a car insurance covers the liabilities one incurs at the time of an unfortunate mishap involving the insured vehicle.

What should be one immediately after an accident?

It is vital that you keep your cool and stay calm so that you are able to think straight and sort everything out. Following are few of the things that you have to do immediately after the accident:

• Check if anybody involved in the accident needs medical attention, if so, arrange for an ambulance and medical attention as soon as possible
• Note down the details of the vehicle/vehicles involved in the accident, if any. Details to be noted down include, the car’s number plate, the car’s make and model and the car’s colour
• Also not down the names and contact numbers of all the witnesses who were present at the scene of the accident. They will help in deciding who caused the accident. Whose fault caused the accident
• Call the police and file an FIR at the nearest police station. Also, obtain a copy of the FIR filed by you
• Analyse the situation at hand and call the insurance firm if you feel that you have to raise a third-party liability claim. Make sure you have a valid reason to raise a claim request along with the supporting documents

What you shouldn't do after a car accident

There are certain things that you shouldn’t do at any cost after an accident such as:

• Getting into a brawl with the third party involved in the accident
• Giving incident statement to the insurer and police when you are stressed and not clear headed
• Making harsh decisions

How to file for your insurance claim

You have to raise your insurance claim request within the stipulated time period as mentioned in your insurance policy document. There are two kinds of claim you can raise:

• Third-party insurance claim

You can raise a third-party claim when a third party has been injured or a third-party property has been damages as a consequence of the accident which was your fault.

• Own damage claim

You can raise an own damage claim if you have been injured or your vehicle has undergone damages as a result of the accident

You can choose for a reimbursement claim settlement or cashless claim settlement depending on your convenience and what claim facility you have availed at the time of policy purchase or renewal. There are a number of documents you have to submit in order for the insurer to process your claim settlement, following are the list of documents you have to submit when making a claim:

• Copy of your car insurance policy document
• Copy of the FIR filed by you
• Duly signed and filled claim form
• Copy of the vehicle’s registration certificate
• Copy of your driving license
• Copy of the original estimate of the vehicle repairs
• Copy of all the medical receipts in case of any injuries