HOW TO SET UP AN INSURANCE CLAIM AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

driver filing insurance claim after car accident using phone and documents

If you’ve recently been in an accident in St. George or anywhere in Southern Utah, you’re not alone in wondering what to do next. The good news is that setting up a claim is usually a straightforward process—but knowing how to do it correctly can make a big difference down the road.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of setting up an insurance claim and how to make sure everything is handled the right way from the start.

Step 1: Notify Your Insurance Company Right Away

After a car accident, one of the first things you should do is contact your insurance company—even if the accident wasn’t your fault.

This step is important for a few reasons. First, it creates an official record of the accident. Second, if injuries are involved, your no-fault benefits (also known as Personal Injury Protection, or PIP) may apply to you and any passengers in your vehicle.

Most insurance companies make it easy to report an accident. You can usually find the correct phone number right on your insurance card. Once you call, you’ll be connected with an insurance adjuster who will begin the claims process.

Step 2: Provide Clear and Accurate Information to the Adjuster

After reporting the accident, you’ll speak with an insurance adjuster. Their job is to gather information about what happened so they can begin evaluating the claim.

You’ll likely be asked questions such as:

  • When and where the accident occurred
  • How many vehicles were involved
  • Whether anyone was injured
  • What damage was sustained

It’s important to be honest and stick to the facts. If you’re unsure about something, it’s okay to say so. The goal at this stage is simply to provide accurate information so the claim can move forward.

Step 3: Write Down and Save Your Claim Number

Once your claim is set up, you’ll be given a claim number. This number is important—it’s how the insurance company tracks everything related to your accident.

Be sure to write it down and keep it somewhere safe. You’ll use it anytime you:

  • Call your insurance company
  • Send emails or documents
  • Follow up on your claim

Having this number handy helps keep communication smooth and ensures nothing gets lost or delayed.

Setting Up a Claim With the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance

After you’ve opened a claim with your own insurance company, the next step is to establish a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

In many cases, the other driver will report the accident to their insurance provider. But that doesn’t always happen. We’ve seen situations where the at-fault driver delays reporting—or doesn’t report the accident at all.

When that happens, it can leave you wondering what to do next.

You have the option to contact the other driver’s insurance company directly to open a claim. However, many people aren’t comfortable making that call or aren’t sure what to say—and that’s completely understandable.

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help With Insurance Claims

This is where working with a team like McMullin Injury Law can make the process much easier.

Setting up insurance claims might seem simple at first, but things can quickly become more complex—especially if there are multiple vehicles, injuries, or questions about fault.

A personal injury attorney can step in and handle the process for you. That includes contacting all insurance companies involved and making sure each claim is properly established from the beginning.

Taking the Pressure Off You

After an accident, your focus should be on your recovery—not on navigating insurance calls and paperwork. An attorney can handle communication with insurance adjusters so you don’t have to worry about missing anything important.

Making Sure Everything Is Set Up Correctly

Even small mistakes at the beginning of a claim can create complications later on. Having guidance from the start helps ensure that all necessary information is included and that your claim is moving in the right direction.

Helping in More Complex Accidents

In accidents involving multiple drivers, vehicles, or injuries, things can become especially complicated. Coordinating between different insurance companies takes experience and organization.

Having a legal team on your side helps simplify that process and keeps everything on track.

Why Setting Up Your Claim the Right Way Matters

The steps you take immediately after a car accident can have a lasting impact on your claim. Setting things up properly from the beginning helps ensure that everything is documented, organized, and ready to move forward.

It also helps prevent delays and confusion later on.

Here in Southern Utah, where roads are getting busier every year, accidents happen more often than people expect. Knowing what to do—and having the right support—can make all the difference.

Get Help With Your Car Accident Claim in St. George

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and aren’t sure where to start, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

At McMullin Injury Law, we help people throughout St. George and Southern Utah set up and manage their insurance claims from day one. Our goal is to make the process as smooth as possible so you can focus on what matters most—getting better.