Car accidents are among the harrowing and terrible occurrences you might encounter in your everyday life. If you and everyone else in the collision are unharmed, the next hardest part will be dealing with insurance companies.
Filing insurance claims on your car may be a stressful and
time-consuming procedure, especially if all you want is for your vehicle to be
restored to its original state. Fortunately, with a little research and
perseverance, you'll be able to file your claim and have your automobile fixed
in no time.
#1 Taking Action Immediately Following the Incident
1. Make contact with the authorities.
You will need to inform the police depending on the severity
of the accident. Contacting the authorities is critical since they will
document the accident. In doing so, they will document the specifics of the
accident based on the accounts of all people involved (including witnesses).
Such paperwork is critical because insurance companies will use it to establish
who is largely liable for losses.
In most circumstances, you should contact the police.
In the event of a small automobile accident, such as a
fender bender in the parking lot, you may be able to call another sort of law
enforcement officer who will document the accident.
In the event of a more serious collision, paramedics or
firemen will be dispatched to the scene. Remember that in insurance-related
claims, the safety and well-being of all parties are crucial.
2. If feasible, obtain the other party's contact information.
It is your right to request the other driver's personal
information. It is also your responsibility to provide them with your personal
information. If another individual was involved in the collision, make sure you
obtain their:
- Name.
- The number on a driver's license.
- The number on a license plate.
- If they have insurance details.
3. Obtain the personal details of all witnesses.
Obtaining the contact information of witnesses is very
critical and can help you with the claims procedure. Witnesses of the accident
may choose to speak about what they have seen. However, not all of them are
eager to perform that specific duty.
- If they don't want to chat, don't be harsh to them.
- Most witnesses who remain on the site will be pleased to assist.
- Request their names, phone numbers, and addresses politely.
4. Take photographs of the accident site.
If you were carrying a camera or a camera phone at the time
of the accident, don't be afraid to photograph the incident. Photographing the
accident site may aid your case if you file a claim. Images may include:
- The locations of the vehicles following the crash.
- Your vehicle's damage.
- The name of the street or location where the accident occurred.
5. Collect the necessary information.
Before phoning your insurance provider and making a claim,
be sure you have all of the necessary information. This is critical because
your insurance will be unable to process a claim unless you provide essential
information. Check that you have:
Your insurance policy number.
Other identifying information (such as your date of birth or
the last four digits of your social security number) that the firm can use to
verify your identification.
A simple account of the occurrence. If you're still trying
to figure out what happened, don't call the insurance company. Remember to take
photos of the occurrence and report them to the authorities as soon as possible.
6. Prevent more harm.
After you and the authorities have documented the accident,
you should take precautions to avoid additional harm. Most insurance companies
require policyholders to take reasonable efforts to ensure that insured cars do
not sustain further damage as a result of the collision.
Often, the first step will be to arrange for a tow truck to
transport the car to a safer area (if needed).
If there is any damage to your car that might enable
moisture to enter the interior, you should cover it with a tarp or thick
plastic.
Ascertain that the car is kept or positioned in an area
where theft or vandalism is improbable.
#2 Making Contact with Your Insurance Company
1. Contact your insurance provider.
After you've contacted the police and documented the
accident, you should call your insurance carrier. While you can occasionally
contact the firm via an 1800 number, depending on your insurance, you may need
to contact your personal agent. In any case, contacting the firm is critical
since the insurance company will want specific information to begin
the claims process.
When contacting your insurance company:
Contact your insurance company as soon as you are safe to do
so. Unless you are wounded and in the hospital, you should call within 24 to 48
hours.
Make certain that neither you nor the other members of your
party are in any further danger. Avoid phoning your insurance provider when
stuck in rush hour traffic on a major expressway.
- Make sure you're in a situation where you can hear the agent or representative on the phone.
- Please provide any and all information requested by your agent or representative.
2. Inquire with your insurance representative about vital facts you may not be aware of.
While on the phone with your insurance, make sure to
question them about any facts you need to know in the future. This knowledge
will help you psychologically prepare for the remainder of the claims
procedure.
- Will you be covered by insurance for the incident?
- How much is your deductible?
- What are the boundaries of your policy?
3. Speak with an adjuster.
You will be sent to an adjuster after your initial call to
the insurance company. Typically, the adjuster will contact you several days
after the claim is submitted to schedule a time to inspect your vehicle.
Make sure you are available to the adjuster. Your claim will
be processed more quickly if you meet with him or her as soon as possible.
- The adjuster will examine your vehicle, accident records, and any pertinent information.
- The adjuster will reach a decision regarding who was to blame for the accident.
- The adjuster will offer an estimate of the vehicle's repair costs.
The adjuster will rarely tell you that the automobile
is a total loss. In this situation, if the loss is insured, the insurance will
reimburse you for the vehicle's replacement cost (if the loss is covered).
Your insurance may require you to bring your vehicle to a
body shop with an onsite adjuster in specific situations. This frequently
expedites the claims procedure.
#3 After You've Filed Your Claim, Here's What to Do.
1. Maintain communication with your insurance company.
After speaking with the adjuster, you must keep in contact
with your insurer. Maintaining contact is critical in ensuring that the
adjuster and insurer remain proactive on your claim.
- Call your insurance company two days after the adjuster has inspected your vehicle.
- Inquire about the status of your claim.
- Inquire about the timetable for your claim.
2. Plan on dealing with your deductible.
Your deductible is the amount of car damage for which you
are solely liable, regardless of your insurer. Following your conversation with
your insurance carrier, you should plan to pay or otherwise deal with your
deductible.
In the event of a total (covered) loss, your insurer will
pay you the replacement cost of your car less your deductible. For instance, if
the replacement cost is $5,000 and your deductible is $500, your insurer will
pay you $4,500.
If your automobile received minor damage and can be repaired
at a body shop, you must pay the deductible to the body shop, and the insurer
will either pay the body shop directly or refund you for the covered amount.
Policies and processes differ from company to business, so
make sure to ask your insurance how they will handle your deductible.
3. If necessary, you can negotiate or contest your claim.
Sometimes the adjuster may give you a repair estimate (or
replacement cost) for your automobile that is either unreasonable or just too
cheap. In these circumstances, you'll need to call your insurance to dispute
the estimate and negotiate with them.
If you believe the replacement cost of your automobile (in
the case of a total loss) is too low, you should offer 3-5 examples of
replacement costs in your location. Make careful to look for instances that
correspond to your totaled vehicle.
If you believe your car's repair cost is too cheap, have
other body shops in your region submit quotes for the repairs. Submit the
estimates to your adjuster and/or insurance once you get them.
If you believe your insurance and the adjuster are not
treating you properly, make sure to continue and escalate your complaint to
corporate officials and supervisors.
4. All of your costs should be documented and submitted to your insurance.
Remember to keep track of all of your costs as they happen.
This is significant because your insurer may reimburse some of your
accident-related expenditures. As a result, keep meticulous records of your
costs.
- Maintain duplicates of all receipts, invoices, and estimates.
- Your insurance company may pay for a tow truck to transport your vehicle.
