What should I do after a car accident if I have USAA insurance?

After a car accident, USAA auto insurance customers should first call 911 to get medical help if anyone is injured. Then, you should contact USAA by calling (800) 531-8669 as soon as possible to report the accident. You can choose to report the accident and immediately file a claim, or you can report the accident and file a claim at another time. You can file your claim by calling USAA or using the USAA website.

However, before you begin the claims process with USAA, it is important that you follow the appropriate steps at the scene of the accident.

What To Do After an Accident If You Have USAA Insurance

1. Call the police and report the accident. Provide them with your name, contact information, and exact location so they can meet you at the scene as soon as possible, and be sure to let them know if anyone is injured. When the police arrive, make sure you get their name and a police report number in case you need it for an insurance claim. If the police are not dispatched, you can file an accident report yourself later by calling your local police station or DMV.
2. Move your vehicle to a safe location, if possible. If the damage to your vehicle is minor and you are still able to drive it, move your car off the road and turn on the hazard lights to warn other drivers.
3. Take photos of the accident scene. Photograph as much evidence as possible including all vehicles involved, any skid marks on the road, physical injuries, and any surrounding property damage.
4. Exchange information with the other driver(s). This includes your name, contact information, and insurance information.
5. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident. This is helpful in case you need a neutral third-party to recount the events.
6. Contact USAA to report the accident. Call USAA at (800) 531-8669to report that you have been in an accident. You should report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible, but you do not have to file your claim at the same time.
7. File your claim. You can file a claim by calling USAA at (800) 531-8669. You can also file your claim with USAA online through their website. If another driver was at fault, use the information you got from them at the scene to contact their insurance company.

Key Things to Know About Filing a Claim With USAA

How you should file your claim will depend on a few factors.

If you were not at fault, you will file your claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company. If you were at fault, or if fault is taking a long time to be determined, you can file a collision claim with USAA if you have collision insurance, and USAA can potentially recoup the cost from the at-fault driver's insurance later if you are found to be not at fault.

You may be able to file a PIP claim for medical expenses.

In most states with no-fault insurance laws, drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to cover their own medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault. If you have PIP insurance and need coverage for medical expenses for you or your passengers, you can file a PIP claim with USAA, regardless of fault.

In some states, MedPay will cover medical expenses.

In Maine and New Hampshire, medical payments coverage (MedPay) is required for people with car insurance, so you could file a MedPay claim for medical expenses in these states. MedPay covers similar expenses to PIP insurance but offers less coverage.

Average Annual Cost of USAA Insurance After an Accident

If you were at fault for the accident, your USAA insurance will likely go up by about 94% after the accident, depending on factors like your age, experience and state. If you were not at fault, your rates could go up by around 4%.

Note: Rates are an approximation based on a male driver in California. Actual rates will vary.

To learn more, check out our guide on what to do after a car accident, as well as our complete review of USAA insurance.