What’s the difference between first-party and third-party claims?

Let’s look at a few hypothetical scenarios to help understand the difference between these claims:

• First-party claim: You accidentally hit a pole while trying to park your vehicle. Since you’re the only involved party and you’re responsible for the damage, you would file a first-party claim with your own insurance company.

• Third-party claim: You back out of a parking spot without looking and strike a vehicle that was driving behind yours. Because you’re at fault, the other driver would file a third-party claim against your policy with your insurance provider.

The type of claim you file depends on the circumstances of the accident. If you cause damage to your own vehicle, you would file a claim with your insurance company. If you cause damage to someone else’s vehicle, the other party would file a claim with your insurance company.

However, when multiple vehicles are involved in an accident, it’s best to get the insurance companies of all parties included in the claims process as soon as possible. The insurance companies will typically work together to resolve the claim.

If you’re a Sentry customer, you can file a first-party claim through our online portal. If you’re not a customer, visit our claims page for directions and contact information.