Whose Insurance To Call If Someone Hits Your Car

If someone hits your car, call your insurance company. Any other involved parties should call their insurance companies as well. And as long as you've all exchanged information, the insurance companies can sort out who covers what.

In the case of determining who's at fault for an accident, a police report can come in handy. This is why it's important to document everything you can and collect a report about the accident to give to your insurance company.

If someone hits me, do I call their insurance or mine?

You should call your auto insurance company whether you're at fault or not in an accident. You might be worried that your rates will increase if you call your provider — that’s a legit worry because they probably will if you have to submit a claim.

But calling your insurance company helps set a foundation for yourself in the event that you do need to submit a claim in the future. You might find out that all damages will be covered by the other party's insurance, which would likely be a best-case scenario.

If that doesn't happen, your initial phone call reporting the accident to your insurer can make it much easier to continue with the claims process.

Calling your insurance company can also help start the process of submitting a third-party claim. This is a type of claim that's submitted by someone other than the policyholder. In the case of being hit by someone else, you'd be filing a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company to help pay for expenses.

Tip

You likely want to contact your insurance company even if the damage is minimal, especially if there's another party involved in an accident. Another driver might say they won't pursue anything, but it's in your best interests to have evidence in place about a reported accident in case anything changes. This doesn't mean you have to submit a claim.

Will the damage be covered by my insurance?

It depends on the type of accident, where you live, and what kind of insurance you have. And, ultimately, your insurance company decides what damage is covered. Here's a breakdown of what the primary types of car insurance typically cover:

	Typically covers
Bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage	Damages and/or injuries you cause to someone else or their property
Collision coverage	Damages to your vehicle that result from a collision with another vehicle, a stationary object, or as a result of flipping over
Comprehensive coverage	Damages that aren't covered by collision insurance, such as vandalism, fire, hail, falling objects, theft, or hitting an animal
Personal injury protection or medical payments	Medical expenses related to the treatment of injuries for you and other passengers in your vehicle; could also cover funeral costs, lost wages, and the cost of replacing services
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage	Expenses that come into play if you're hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist or involved in a hit-and-run accident

Compare car insurance rates in Ohio

By clicking the button below I understand and agree that this site uses site visit recording technology (provided by Trusted Form, Jornaya, and Microsoft Clarity) Privacy Policy

Check Rates

What if I’m hit by an uninsured driver?

According to a 2023 study by the Insurance Research Council, one in seven U.S. motorists was uninsured in 2022, the most recent year for which data was available. That means the chances of being hit by an uninsured driver are probably higher than you might like.

There are generally two scenarios for what happens if an uninsured person hits you in a car accident:

You have uninsured/underinsured insurance that covers it.
You don't have uninsured/underinsured insurance and have to look for other solutions.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance coverage exists because not everyone has car insurance. And even if someone does have car insurance, they might not have high enough limits to cover all applicable expenses.

Uninsured/underinsured coverage is required in many, but not all, states. If you have this coverage and you know the other driver is uninsured, let your insurance company know the situation when you call them. This will help them follow the necessary steps to successfully submit your claim.

If you don't have uninsured/underinsured coverage, you might be able to have other parts of your policy pay for expenses. For example, collision coverage might help pay for your car repairs, whereas personal injury protection could pay for medical-related expenses.

But if your insurance policy won't cover all expenses, you might have to pay for them out of pocket. You could possibly take the other driver to court, but keep in mind that typically comes with some expenses as well.

The insurance claims process

The auto insurance claims process typically starts when you call your provider after being involved in a car accident, often while you're still at the scene of the accident. Depending on your provider, you also might be able to start the process using a mobile app on your smartphone.

Your insurance company should let you know exactly what you need to submit when it comes to forms, reports, photos, and more. You can sometimes keep track of the progress of your claim through your online account using the company website or mobile app.

If you're not used to how claims work, be sure to ask your provider plenty of questions. This could involve finding out any time limits for submitting documentation or resolving a claims dispute.

Tip

Keep in mind that you might be contacted by a claims or insurance adjuster. This is an individual who's tasked with investigating your claim to determine whether it's legitimate. If it's deemed a legit claim, the adjuster helps decide how much the insurance company is going to pay. An adjuster can also help you coordinate car repairs and vehicle inspections.

Insurance companies generally have around 30 days to investigate a claim, though this can vary by state and the type of claim. If your claim is denied, you might be able to dispute the denial.

If your claim is approved, the payment could be handled a few different ways depending on what's being covered. For example, your insurer might pay for your car repairs directly or have you pay for them and then reimburse you.

FAQs

Who do you call if someone hits your parked car?

Call the police so they can file a police report. This can help make things easier if you plan on submitting a claim with your insurance. Even if you don't plan on submitting a claim, you still might want to report the accident to your insurance. This could help protect you in case the other party pursues any legal action.

Should I contact my insurance if I’m not at fault?

Yes, whether or not you’ve established who’s at fault for an accident, you should call your insurance to report it so that you can set the groundwork for possibly filing a claim — it could end up that the other party’s insurance covers everything, but you’ll want to have called yours to relay information about the accident regardless.

What if someone hits my car, and I don't have insurance?

In many states, the liability insurance of the at-fault driver is responsible for any damages or injuries. But if you live in a no-fault state, you're typically required to file a claim with your own insurance company after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. If you don't have insurance, you might have to cover the damages yourself.

Does my insurance go up if someone hits me?

Your car insurance rates typically increase if you cause an accident, but it's also possible for them to go up if someone else is at fault. However, it's likely that your rates wouldn't increase as much as if you were at fault for the accident.

Bottom line

You typically want to call your insurance company if someone hits your car, which is the case for most types of car accidents.

Calling your insurance company soon after an accident can help keep important details fresh and set you up to submit a claim if necessary. It can also help protect you against potential lawsuits from other parties because you'll have evidence of the accident with your insurance company.

Save On Your Auto Insurance

You could save up to $600 with some companies
Compare dozens of providers in under 5 minutes
Fast, free and easy way to shop for insurance
Quickly find the perfect rate for you

Get a quote now