Posts Tagged ‘auto accident’

How to Facilitate the Process of Filing an Auto Insurance Claim

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

If you need to file an auto insurance claim, do you know what to do?

  • The very first thing you should do if you find yourself in an auto accident is to call the authorities and alert the police (and an ambulance, if necessary). The police will provide you with an accident report, which can help provide you with documentation, both for your auto insurance company, as well as any other claim that may arise from the incident.

    • A police report will also be necessary if you need to file a personal injury insurance claim.

  • After you have received a police report and received medical attention (if necessary), you will want to contact your auto insurance company immediately. Most auto insurance companies require you to file a claim within 24 hours of the accident, so don’t delay making this phone call. You may also be able to file a claim on the Web, so check to see if this feature is available through your auto insurance company.

  • The auto insurance company will ask you about the accident, including any damages and the involvement of any other parties. The insurance company will need to determine whether accident was your fault or was the fault of the other party, if there was one. They will then assign your claim to an adjuster, who will handle your claim from there. Keep all of your insurance paperwork close by when speaking with your claims adjuster.

  • Stay in contact with your claims representative and ask questions as they arise. Keep the lines of communication open with your claims adjuster so that you can move the process of filing a claim along faster.

  • Ask your claims adjuster about repairing your vehicle; in particular, find out where you need to take your vehicle. Many auto insurance companies work with particular auto body companies, so don’t forget to ask questions regarding the repair of your vehicle.

  • Ask your claims adjuster if your policy covers car rental. If so, ask about the details of the rental car benefits, including the daily benefit amount and the length of time that your policy covers a rental car.

    • Tags: , , , , , , ,
    Posted in Auto Insurance | No Comments »

    Do you have Adequate Auto Insurance? What to Look for

    Friday, January 8th, 2010

    You sign up for auto insurance, pay your premiums on time and take for granted that your auto insurance is fully protecting both you and your vehicle. But is it really?

    You may be surprised to find that many auto insurance policies are less than thorough, thereby leaving you inadequately insured if you become involved in an auto accident. Many individuals choose less-adequate levels of auto insurance to save money, but the reality is that you could lose tremendously more than the few dollars it would cost you monthly for a better policy should you have extensive medical bills and auto damage.

    A comprehensive auto insurance policy should be comprised of several, key segments, including:

    • Liability - Liability is the part of your auto insurance policy that is required by your state. Without it, and you’d be breaking the law. Liability covers the cost of property damage or bodily injury to others caused by you in an auto accident.

    • Collision - Collision is an important part of any comprehensive auto insurance policy, as it covers the cost of your auto repairs should you become involved in an auto accident. Collision may also cover the cost of repairs if your car has been vandalized or burned, as well.

    • Uninsured motorist - If you are hit by another driver that is uninsured your auto insurance will step in and cover your bodily injuries and auto damage, provided you are covered by the uninsured motorist section of your auto insurance policy.

    • Personal injury protection - If you or your passengers have medical expenses and lost wages as a result of an accident, the personal injury protection part of your auto insurance will cover these expenses.

    • Medical payments - The medical payments segment of your auto insurance policy will pay your medical bills immediately, and will also cover your medical bills if your or anyone in your household is in any type of accident involving a vehicle.

    • No-fault insurance -  No-fault insurance, which is required in some states, is designed to cover all expenses in an accident, regardless of which driver was at fault.

    Tags: , , , , , , , ,
    Posted in Auto Insurance | No Comments »

    Information You Need When Filing an Auto Claim

    Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

    Even the most careful drivers with the most sparkling records get into an accident at some point.  About 1 in 4 of all drivers will experience an auto accident within the next 5 years.  What will you do if it happens to you?  Do you know what information you will need to make a claim?  Below is some important information you should acquire.

    Other Driver Info - You must get all contact information from the other driver, no matter who was at fault in the accident.  Always get the following:

    • Name
    • Phone Contact (must)
    • Address (if possible)
    • Name and Phone of Insurance Company
    • Insurance Policy Number’

    Other Car Info - Always write down a short description of the other vehicle(s) in an accident.  Your claims adjuster will ask for this information.  Get the following:

    • Make
    • Model
    • Year
    • Color
    • Damage description

    Cross Streets - Make a note of where the accident occurred.  The more information you can provide to an insurance claim adjuster, the better.  Get the street name, nearest cross streets, and draw a small map of the accident if you think about it.

    Photos - With the invention of cell phone cameras, you have a way to photo-document the accident right after it occurred.  With your phone cam, or any other camera handy, take a few photos of the accident, including close-ups of the damage, and wider shots of all cars involved.

    Name and Contact of Witnesses - If your accident was witnessed by others, try to get their names and phone numbers.  Their testimony may be important when police or insurance claim adjusters are trying to determine fault and what exactly happened.

    Unattended Vehicles - If you happen to damage a parked vehicle leave your contact information for the owner.  Write down your name, phone, insurance company and policy number, and leave it under the windshield wiper with a note to contact you.  In the meantime,

    All the above information is important to have after an accident.  It might be wise to create a little checklist with the above information and keep it in your glove compartment or somewhere you can access it after an accident.  Remember, the more information you gather the easier your auto insurance claim will be.

    Tags: , ,
    Posted in Auto Insurance | No Comments »