Strong evidence is your most powerful tool. Collect and keep everything: photos of injuries and property damage, the official accident report, all medical records and bills, receipts for related expenses, and a diary documenting your pain and recovery. Proof of lost wages from your employer is also crucial. This documentation creates a clear, undeniable link between the incident and your financial losses, preventing the insurance company from downplaying your claim.

It means you must collect and share basic contact and insurance details with everyone involved in the incident, not just one person. This includes drivers, vehicle owners, and any witnesses. You should get full names, phone numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance policy details. This step is the foundational first action after ensuring everyone’s safety. It creates a clear record of who was involved and how to contact them and their insurers, which is required by law in most places after a collision.

Policies always list what they don’t cover. Key exclusions to scrutinize include intentional acts, professional services (unless you have E&O insurance), contractual liability for certain agreements, pollution, employment practices, and cyber incidents. You must understand these gaps. If your business faces excluded risks, you need separate, specific policies to cover them. Never assume a general liability policy is all-encompassing.