What information do I need when calling my insurer after an accident?
Quick answer:
Have your policy number, the date, time, and location of the accident, contact and insurance information for all parties involved, a description of what happened, and photos of the vehicles and scene if safely collected.
Before you call, gather as much of the following as possible: your policy number (on your ID card or declarations page), date, time, and exact location of the accident, names, phone numbers, and insurance information for all other drivers involved, license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions for all vehicles, police report number if law enforcement responded, names and contact details of any witnesses, photos of damage, license plates, and the scene, and a brief factual description of what happened without admitting fault.
You do not need all of this to open a claim, but having it ready speeds up the process. The adjuster will guide you through any gaps.