Do I Call the Other Persons Insurance if They Hit Me
Yes, you should contact the other driver's insurance to start their claim, but let your own insurer know first.
A rear-end stop at a light
You're stopped at a red light and the car behind you doesn't stop in time. There's damage to your bumper and you exchange information at the scene. The other driver admits fault to the officer who arrives, and you have a police report number in hand before you leave.
That evening you call your own insurer first to report what happened, even though you weren't at fault. They open a claim file and tell you what documentation to gather. The next morning you call the other driver's insurance company to start the claim on their end, sticking to facts about the accident itself and not discussing your injuries or how you're feeling. Within a few days an adjuster from that company contacts you about the vehicle damage, and because you reported promptly and kept your statements factual, the claim moves forward without the other insurer questioning what happened.
The short version
Yes, call the other driver's insurance to report the claim, but call your own insurer first. Stick to facts about the accident and avoid discussing fault, injuries, or your own health. Get the claim number and adjuster name from both companies before you hang up.
What if the other driver's insurance calls me first?
If the other driver's insurance company calls you before you've reported to your own insurer, you can still talk to them, but keep it brief and factual. Give the basic facts of what happened, your contact information, and the police report number if you have one. You don't owe them a recorded statement on the spot, and you can ask to schedule that for later after you've spoken with your own insurer.
What you want to avoid is answering questions about injuries or giving opinions about fault during that first call. Adjusters are trained to ask open-ended questions early, and answering quickly without thinking can create statements that are hard to walk back later. It's reasonable to say you'll call them back once you've reported the accident on your end. That's not stalling, it's just being careful.
Now that you know how to handle both insurers, compare quotes to make sure your coverage holds up.
Why both insurers need to hear from you
Car insurance works through a claims process that depends on each side reporting what happened. Your insurer needs to know about the accident because it may affect your coverage, your record, or your ability to use benefits like medical payments coverage, even if you weren't at fault. The other driver's insurer needs to know because they're the one who will likely pay for your damage and any injuries, and that claim can't move forward until they have your report.
The reason people hesitate to call the other insurance is the same reason it helps to be careful. That company's job is to pay as little as possible on valid claims, and adjusters are trained to gather information that can reduce what they owe. This doesn't mean they're acting in bad faith, it's simply how the business works. Giving them the facts of the accident is necessary, but you don't have to give them a detailed account of your injuries or sign anything right away.
What changes this picture is how clear fault is and what state you're in. Some states handle these claims through your own insurer first regardless of fault, under rules that vary by where you live, so check how claims work where you are before assuming you'll be dealing directly with the other company. Other states place more responsibility on the at-fault driver's insurer from the start.
If fault is disputed, or if there are injuries involved, the process usually takes longer and may involve more back and forth between both insurers. In those cases it helps to have documentation from the scene and to keep your own insurer updated throughout, since they can often help you understand what the other side is doing with your claim.
You're allowed to report the accident without giving away control of how the story gets told.
