Your own insurer
Your policy is a contract, and it usually asks you to report a crash promptly and cooperate with the claim. Report the date, the place, the vehicles involved and the police report number. If you are asked about injuries and you have not seen a doctor yet, say so, rather than saying you are fine.
The other driver’s insurer
The adjuster who calls from the other side works for the other driver’s company. They may be pleasant and they may ask to record the conversation. You are generally not obliged to give them a recorded statement, and it is reasonable to ask for questions in writing or to say you will call back once you have advice.
- Give your name, contact details and the basic facts of where and when.
- Decline to guess at speeds, distances or how badly you are hurt.
- Do not sign a medical records release that covers your whole history.
- Do not accept a payment or sign a release until you understand what it ends.
Keep a call log
For every call, note the date, the time, the person’s name and company, their claim number and what was said. Follow important calls with a short email confirming what you understood. A log turns a confusing month into a timeline anyone can follow.