How to file a third-party claim
What is a third-party insurance claim?
A third-party insurance claim is a claim you file with someone else’s insurance company—rather than filing with your own insurance company—when you believe you’re entitled to compensation following an accident. You can file a third-party claim for injuries, property damage, medical bills, and potentially other expenses.
How do third-party insurance claims work?
Understanding the third-party auto claim process
While each situation is unique, here’s an overview of the typical third-party auto claim process:
First, reach out to the other driver’s insurance provider and file your claim—in other words, explain what happened in the accident.
Contact your own insurance provider to let them know what happened; in many cases, the two insurance companies will work together to determine fault and resolve the claim.
You may be contacted throughout the process to provide more information or confirm details of the incident.
If it’s determined the other driver was partially or fully at fault, you may receive payment—dependent on the circumstances of the accident, the state it occurred, and other factors.
What information do you need for a third-party claim?
The more details you can provide about the incident, the better. In order to file a claim against another driver’s insurance provider, you’ll need:
The other driver’s name and phone number
Date and location of incident
Their auto insurance provider and policy number—you’ll find this on their insurance card
Additionally, try to take photos of the vehicles and the accident scene, and get names and contact information from any witnesses—but be sure not to put yourself in harm’s way.
If the police came to the scene, there will be a police report of the accident. Be sure to mention this when reporting your claim, so the claim representative can collect vital information from it.
Who determines fault after an accident?
The claims representative assigned to your claim will review the facts of the case, including statements from drivers and witnesses, police reports, photos, and other evidence. Depending on the state the incident occurred, fault may be split amongst multiple parties.
Can I provide more information about the accident after I file the claim?
Yes—you can provide additional photos, witness statements, and other information throughout the duration of the claim process. But the sooner you can provide these details, the more efficiently the process.
How to file a third-party insurance commercial auto claim against a Sentry customer
If you were involved in an accident with someone driving on behalf of a company insured by Sentry, we’ll work with you and your insurance provider to resolve the claim efficiently—and fairly.
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, first ensure everyone involved is in a safe area, and get help for anyone who was injured, and call the police.
Gather the following information:
The other driver’s name, phone number, and insurance provider and policy number
Photos of your vehicle, the other vehicle, and the accident scene.
Witness and passenger names and contact information
Once you’ve gathered your bearings and have the information you need, reach out to us as soon as you can following the accident. Visit our Claims page and click Report as guest >. Or, if you’d prefer to speak to one of our knowledgeable claims representatives, call us at 800-473-6879.
Need to file a third-party claim with Dairyland® insurance?
Through Dairyland—a brand of the Sentry Insurance Group—we provide personal auto, motorcycle, and off-road insurance.
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