First 48 Hours
Vehicle hit my home. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Vehicle impact claims are multi-policy situations: their auto, your home, possibly their bodily injury, and sometimes municipal liability. Coordination in the first 48 hours decides whether you get paid fully and quickly or fight for a year.
Before you do anything: make your home safe.
If there is active fire, gas, electrical risk, or structural collapse risk, evacuate and call 911 first. Property damage is recoverable. Safety is not.
Immediate steps
The first hour
Every minute of the first hour after vehicle impact shapes the claim that follows. Work the list. Do not skip steps. Do not improvise.
- 01
Ensure everyone is safe and medically clear
Call 911 if there is any injury suspicion. Structural safety before property damage.
- 02
Get police to respond and file a report
Even for minor impact. The police report is the liability anchor for every downstream claim.
- 03
Gather driver information
Name, address, phone, driver's license, insurance carrier, policy number, plate number. Photograph their license and insurance card.
- 04
Photograph the scene before vehicle is moved
Vehicle position, impact point, skid marks, debris, any signage or curb damage.
- 05
Contact your own homeowners carrier
Even if the driver was at fault, your policy typically responds first and then subrogates against theirs.
Critical
Document before you clean
Photograph everything first.
Your carrier will question anything you clean up before they see. Documentation preserves scope. Cleanup without documentation collapses scope.
- 01
Document structural damage thoroughly
Impact point, propagation of damage, any cracks or displacement beyond the obvious impact area.
- 02
Photograph interior effects
Drywall cracks, ceiling effects, floor displacement, anything dislodged.
- 03
Get driver's insurance info in writing
Some drivers will give false info verbally. Their insurance card, policy number, phone number.
- 04
Save all medical documentation if anyone was injured
Even minor injuries. If you or a family member was impacted by flying debris or the shock, document treatment.
What to photograph and video
- ✓Vehicle in place before it is moved (if possible)
- ✓Vehicle after moved, showing damage
- ✓Impact point on structure: wide, mid, close
- ✓Propagation cracks or damage beyond the impact
- ✓Interior damage from shock/vibration
- ✓Any broken glass, debris fields, displaced items
- ✓Driver's license and insurance card
- ✓Police on scene and report number
FNOL
Call your insurance carrier
Once the property is documented and safe, call your carrier. Ask for a claim number. Give the facts. State that you are reserving the right to supplement the claim as the full scope emerges. That is standard language, not a red flag.
Free claim review
Get a free claim review from a licensed Florida public adjuster.
We review your policy and estimate at no cost. If we take your case, our fee only comes from the increased recovery.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
Do not give a recorded statement yet.
You can decline until you have documented the full scope and, ideally, had a licensed Florida public adjuster review your statement. Once recorded, it is the canonical version of events.
If you know your carrier, read the carrier profile for specifics on how they handle vehicle impact claims. Each carrier has patterns. Knowing the pattern is half the advantage.
Policy requirement
Mitigate further damage
Your policy requires you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Emergency tarps, plumbing shut-offs, board-up, drying, mold control. Keep every receipt. These expenses are reimbursable.
What is reasonable mitigation?
Tarps on a damaged roof: yes. Full roof replacement in week one: no. Water extraction and drying: yes. Finish replacement before scope is agreed: no. The line is "prevent further damage," not "start repair."
Know the traps
Red flags in the first 48 hours
- SUYour carrier drags subrogationSubrogation (your carrier going after their carrier) is supposed to be automatic. Delays mean your deductible does not get reimbursed.
- FADriver's carrier denies liabilityDenying liability shifts the claim back to you. Do not accept their story without your police report and, if needed, legal review.
- PRYour carrier reduces for "pre-existing" damageOld settlement cracks get blamed for fresh impact damage. Photos of pre-loss condition defeat this.
- HIHit-and-run with no driver identifiedYour homeowners policy generally still responds. UM/UIM does not apply (that is auto). File on yours and let them investigate.
Free claim review
Still building your claim? We can help right now.
A licensed Florida public adjuster will review your policy and loss documentation for free.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
Decision
When to call a public adjuster
You should call a licensed Florida public adjuster when the damage is substantial, when the carrier's first response feels like an anchor, when you are being asked to sign things you do not fully understand, or when the carrier is asking questions that feel designed to shift the narrative of cause.
You do not need one for a $500 screen repair. You almost always want one for a $30,000 kitchen restoration. In between, the rule of thumb is: if the claim complexity exceeds the time and expertise you can give it, get representation.
Public adjusters in Florida work on contingency. No recovery over the carrier's first offer, no fee. Our interests align with yours.
No obligation. No fee unless recovery.
Free claim review from a licensed Florida public adjuster.
No obligation. No fee unless we recover more than you were offered.
FAQ
Common questions about vehicle impact claims
Whose insurance covers damage when a car hits my house?+
What if the driver was uninsured?+
What if it was a hit-and-run?+
Do I have to pay my deductible if someone else caused the damage?+
Does my homeowners cover my car if a neighbor drives into it?+
What if the driver is a family member or household member?+
If you need another one
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Go deeper
Deeper claim resources
Claim Process Guide
Every stage of a Florida insurance claim.
Florida Insurance Law
Statutes that protect policyholders.
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When carriers deny and how to fight back.
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Every major damage category.
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Florida carrier profiles.
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Every claim term defined.
Help Center
Common problems homeowners face.
Case Studies
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Decision and settlement tools.
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Every major Florida storm profiled.
Locations
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First 48 hours
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Free claim review
Your policy says more than you think. Find out what you are actually owed.
Licensed Florida public adjusters. Free claim review. No recovery, no fee.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
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