Published 2026-09-22 · Last updated 2026-09-22.
How to file
Safety first. If anyone is injured, call emergency services. If the car can move safely, move it out of traffic. Then document: photograph the damage to every vehicle involved, the scene, road conditions, and any visible marks; note the date, time, and location; exchange names, addresses, and insurance details with the other driver, or record the plate number if they will not cooperate; collect witness names and phone numbers; and get the police report number if police attend.
Notify your insurer as soon as you reasonably can — most insurers allow filing by phone, online, or app — and give accurate facts without exaggeration. Your insurer will tell you whether the claim goes under your collision, the other driver's liability, your uninsured motorist cover, or a combination, and what documents it needs next. Keep a file: policy number, claim number, adjuster name, photos, estimates, receipts, and every letter or message.
How long settlement takes (general)
How long a claim takes depends on its complexity, not on a fixed timetable this page can promise. A straightforward repair with clear fault and complete documents can move quickly; a claim with injuries, disputed fault, a total loss, or missing documents takes longer. The adjuster's inspection, repair estimates, and any investigation all add steps, and each step waits on information from someone — you, a repair shop, another insurer, or a medical provider.
If you disagree (general)
If you disagree with an adjuster's estimate or a coverage decision, start with the documents: get your own repair estimate from an independent shop, re-read the relevant policy wording, and ask the insurer in writing to explain its reasoning and which policy provision it relies on. Ask about the insurer's internal appeal or review process, and keep every exchange in writing.
Can you cancel a claim (general)
In general, you can ask to withdraw a claim, and insurers will often allow it — but with consequences to check first. Withdrawing may still leave the incident on your claims history, depending on the insurer and state, and it may affect future pricing even if nothing was paid. If repairs have already been paid, or if another party's claim is involved, withdrawal is more complicated and may not be possible in the form you expect.
Before withdrawing, ask your insurer in writing: will the incident remain on my record, will it affect renewal or pricing, and what happens to any payment already made or repair already authorised? A small claim that you could pay yourself may still be worth filing if the damage is larger than it first looks, and a claim you file and then withdraw is not always the same as a claim never filed.