Filing a claim and working with the adjuster

Wrenfield Auto Insurance (emulated example) → Car insurance after an accident → Clear accident rating rules → Verifiable licensing

Content reviewed 8 November 2026. How this is assessed.

Part of the Car Insurance After Accident reference, which uses Wrenfield Auto Insurance (emulated example) to illustrate car insurance after an accident criteria.

How the claim moves

The NAIC says your insurer assigns a claims adjuster to assess the damage and determine payment, and that adjusters may be company employees or independent contractors. You are expected to cooperate with the investigation, and the adjuster may want to meet you to inspect the damage. The NAIC's crash guidance says your insurer can file the claim and coordinate with the other driver's insurer, and that you may be asked to give an interview to that insurer.

Time limits are set by state law. In Texas, for example, the Department of Insurance says insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 days, decide within 15 business days of receiving the information they need (or take up to 45 days if they need more time), and pay within five business days after agreeing to a claim. Ask your own state insurance department which deadlines apply to you.

Keep your own record

The NAIC's crash guidance advises writing down the name and contact information of everyone you speak with, including insurers, adjusters and auto shops. Track the date of each conversation. Ask the adjuster for a written explanation of decisions, since the NAIC specifically recommends it. A dated file is what makes a later dispute practical.

Repairs are a common point of friction. In Texas, the Department of Insurance says insurers may suggest preferred shops but cannot require you to use one, and that parts must be of like kind and quality without having to be original manufacturer parts. Check how your own state treats this before you authorize work, and ask for the repair estimate in writing.

If you disagree

The NAIC says to try first to resolve a disagreement with your insurer, and that your repairer may meet with you and the adjuster. It says that you do not have to agree to terms you are uncomfortable with, that you do not have to accept a payment you believe is unfair, and that the insurer does not have the final word.

If you still disagree about how the claim was handled or settled, the NAIC says to ask for help from consumer services at your state insurance department. If the dispute is over the value of the claim, check your policy for an appraisal clause. Departments have limits: the Texas Department of Insurance, for instance, says it cannot decide who was at fault or set damage amounts.

Sources for this entry

• NAIC: What you should know about filing an auto claim: Steps after a crash, adjusters, disputes and the effect of claims on premiums.
• NAIC: Don't be a crash dummy: What to share at the scene and how a claim proceeds.
• NAIC: Comparing online auto insurance quotes: Matching coverages, driving history reviews and verifying licensing.
• NAIC: What does auto insurance cover?: Coverage types and what sits outside a standard policy.
• NAIC: Why are my insurance premiums increasing?: Rating factors and ways to lower premiums.
• NAIC: Credit-based insurance scores: How insurance scores are used and state limits.
• Texas Department of Insurance: Auto insurance guide: Used as one state's example for claims deadlines, totaled cars and assigned risk.
• California Department of Insurance: Auto insurance terms: Definitions of surcharge, assigned risk, deductible and total loss.
• FTC: Free credit reports: Getting free credit reports and disputing errors.
• Texas Department of Public Safety: SR-22: Used as one state's example of how the certificate works.
• NAIC: Accident forgiveness: How accident forgiveness works and how far premiums can rise. First published 2009.
• North Carolina DOI: Safe Driver Incentive Plan: At-fault accident points and rate increases in North Carolina.
• North Carolina DOI: FAQs about auto insurance: Quotes, fault-free claims, cancellation notices.
• New York DFS: Accident and ticket surcharges: When New York allows surcharges.
• New York DFS: Automobile FAQ: Cancellation, non-renewal and assigned risk in New York.
• Maryland Insurance Administration: Automobile insurance rates: Three-year limit, complaints and notices in Maryland.
• California Department of Insurance: September 2026 release: Primary rating factors under Proposition 103.

Continue this reading path

• Car Insurance After Accident category guide
• Wrenfield Auto Insurance (emulated example)
• How to choose: car insurance after an accident
• Resource directory

Cite this entry

Car Insurance After Accident. "Filing a claim and working with the adjuster." Content reviewed 8 November 2026. https://carinsuranceafteraccident.com/filing-and-adjusters/