1. Call your insurance ASAP
Most carriers have 24/7 claim hotlines and mobile apps. Call as soon as you're safe — within 24 hours if possible. They'll assign you a claim number and walk you through photo documentation if you haven't done it.
What to do, in what order, to make it go smoothly.
Filing an auto insurance claim isn't complicated — but knowing exactly what to do, in what order, makes the difference between a smooth claim and a stressful one. Here's the playbook.
Airpark Auto Collision of Gaithersburg — 7615 Rickenbacker Dr, Suite C, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Call (301) 908-0606
Most carriers have 24/7 claim hotlines and mobile apps. Call as soon as you're safe — within 24 hours if possible. They'll assign you a claim number and walk you through photo documentation if you haven't done it.
Collision (your own damage, your fault or other driver uninsured). Comprehensive (hail, theft, fire, vandalism). Liability (the other driver's damage, your fault). Uninsured Motorist (their fault, they have no insurance). Your adjuster will tell you which applies.
Write it down. Take a screenshot. You'll need it at the body shop, the rental car company, and any subsequent calls. Most claim numbers look like a 10–14 digit alphanumeric string.
Some carriers send an adjuster in person; many handle everything via photos uploaded through their app. We can also do the initial estimate at Airpark and submit it for you — your call.
Maryland law guarantees your right to choose any body shop. Bring the claim number to Airpark Auto Collision — we handle estimates, supplements, parts approvals, and direct billing from there.
The initial filing call typically takes 15–30 minutes. Photo uploads through the carrier's app add another 10–15. Most claim numbers are issued same-day.
Depends on fault, your policy, and your carrier. Not-at-fault claims usually don't raise rates. At-fault and comprehensive (hail/theft) claims sometimes do. Ask your agent for specifics on your policy.
File anyway. The insurance companies will determine fault based on evidence. In Maryland, be careful about admissions — pure contributory negligence means even 1% fault can affect your recovery.