It depends on your situation. You can just let us know what happened, or you can file a claim and let us handle it.

Here are some things to consider as you make your decision.

You may just want to report what happened if:

• There's minimal damage.
• The cost of repairs is less than your deductible.
• You own the damaged vehicle or property and don't want to make repairs.

You should file a claim if:

• There are injuries.
• The cost of the damage to your vehicle or property is more than your deductible.
• You caused damage to someone's vehicle or property.
• You caused damage to public property.

Our commitment is to serve with excellence and inspire lifelong membership. We'll help you get through your claim as easily as possible by providing personalized updates and clear next steps during the process.

1. Report your claim.

Let us know about injuries or damage to your property or vehicle as soon as possible. You can report your claim anytime in our claims center on usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.

2. We'll confirm your coverage.

We'll review what happened and confirm what your policy covers.

3. We'll gather more information.

This can include photos, police or fire reports, and information from other parties who were involved.

4. We'll evaluate the claim.

We'll review the information we gathered and determine the amount to pay based on your coverage and who's responsible for the damages. Your deductible may apply to the total amount that's covered.

5. We'll settle the claim.

If covered, we'll make a payment to you or a third party depending on your claim type. If more repairs or payments are needed, we'll work with your shop or contractor to assess the additional damage and get them paid.

The more information you give us, the easier and faster it can be for your adjuster to settle your claim.

Details we'll need from you:

• Date of the incident
• Basic details of what happened
• Names of all parties involved
• Insurance information for the other parties

Next steps:

• Upload photos of the property or vehicle damage.
• Upload documents.
• Review your coverage.

Log on anytime to check your claim status. No matter how long it takes to settle your claim, we're here to help every step of the way.

If you don't come to this page, you can check the status by logging on to your account.

• On usaa.com. You'll find your active claim next to your policies. Select the claim and go to the "Your Claims" page. Then choose "Check Claim Status."
• The USAA Mobile App. Tap on "Claims" to go to "My Claims Center." Then go to your active claim and tap on "Check claim status."