Posts Tagged ‘auto insurance claim’

Easy Steps for Filing a Car Insurance Claim

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

With cars come car accidents and claims. Not many of us can say we were never involved in a minor fender bender at one time or another; and, as such, most all of us have had to file a car insurance claim.

Although car accidents will likely happen sooner or later, they don’t have to be a great inconvenience. In fact, you can submit a car insurance claim in a relatively painless fashion, provided you understand which steps you must take to facilitate the process of filing a car insurance claim.

Use the following tips to help you file a car insurance claim and get on with your life as soon as possible:

  • First of all, before an accident ever occurs, make it a point to fully understand the terms and conditions of your auto insurance policy. If you don’t have a clear understanding of your policy’s benefits and limitations then you may be in for quite a surprise when it comes time to filing a claim.

  • Make sure you and your passengers are all right and that no one needs medical attention. If the car accident is more than a simple fender bender you may want to seek medical attention for yourself and your passengers, just in case.

  • Exchange all information if another motorist was involved in the accident. Do not leave the scene until you have secured the other driver’s name, address, phone number and insurance company (including the contact information), regardless of whom was at fault. If the other driver seems reluctant to provide you with his/her contact information or if they appear to be intoxicated, agitated or angry, it is best to contact the police so they can make a police report of the accident.

  • Obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses on the scene.

  • Notify your insurance company about the car accident as soon as possible. Your insurance company will likely assign an insurance adjuster to your claim and review the report to determine who was at fault. If the accident is determined to be your fault, you will likely need to pay your auto insurance deductible regarding your damages. However, if the other driver was at fault, you will not have to pay out your deductible to have your damages covered.

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

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 »

    Understanding your Auto Insurance Policy

    Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

    An auto insurance policy is generally straightforward; however, it is important to fully understand the details of your policy so that you can be assured that you are adequately protected if you need to file an auto insurance claim.

    Your Auto Insurance Policy: Understanding the Various Sections

    • The first part of your auto insurance policy involves three numbers separated by slashes. This section of an auto insurance policy is often the most confusing to auto owners. However, these numbers are quite easy to understand.

    The first number is the maximum coverage for your policy, per person. In other words, the initial number equals the total amount of bodily injury coverage for each person. The next number is the total amount of bodily injury coverage. In other words, the first number may be $100,000 and the second number may be $300,000, so the total amount of coverage for bodily injury is $300,000, or $100,000 per person. The third number equals the total amount of property damage coverage for your auto insurance policy.

    • The next section of your auto insurance policy includes the policy’s declarations, and also includes information about your vehicle, the drivers on the policy, the monthly premium for your policy and details of the limitations of your coverage. This section also includes additional information on your policy, such as rental car reimbursement; these additional benefits are usually referred to as riders on your policy.

    • The next section on your auto insurance details and defines the language used in your auto insurance policy. This section is designed to help you understand your policy, so it is common to see auto insurance definitions in this section. This section will also help you understand the process of filing a claim and your responsibilities as the driver of the vehicle.

    • The last section of your auto insurance policy will detail your policy’s exclusions. In other words, this section describes situations in which your policy would not cover you. This is an important section to read and understand, as it will clearly detail your rights and limitations under your auto insurance policy.

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

    Will You Lose Your Auto Insurance Coverage After Your First Claim?

    Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

    It seems to be a popular belief that, upon claiming the first damage / accident to your auto insurance company, a driver will experience an unavoidable hike in their insurance costs. Perhaps due to this urban legend, many drivers pay for their accidents / damages out of their own pockets, as many drivers hope to avoid the seemingly inevitable auto insurance increases after declaring their first claim. To find out if there is any truth to this rumor.

    The Influence of Claims on Auto Insurance Costs

    No Effect

    To find out if a claim can raise your auto insurance costs, you must first evaluate your basic driving history. As auto insurance policy rates are determined by an assessment of a driver’s history, record of tickets, report of accidents, age, average miles driven per week / year, and other factors, simply submitting a single claim to your company will generally not raise your rates. For example, examine the following driver’s history to evaluate how their positive records help him / her to avoid a rise in insurance rates:

    • 27 years old
    • No accidents
    • No speeding tickets
    • Solid credit score of 700, proving the driver pays bills in a timely and responsible manner
    • Commutes 20 miles to work 5 days a week (round trip)

    With these positive driving history features, an insurance company will view this individual as safe, responsible, and reliable. As such, if this driver were to damage his / her car in an accident, most auto insurance companies will not punish him / her by raising the rates of their insurance policy.

    Rate Increase

    On the other hand, examine this alternative example of how a negative driving history could result in a hike in coverage costs:

    • 27 years old
    • 2 accidents
    • 1 speeding ticket
    • Weaker credit score of 620, with some lenders reporting late bill payments
    • Commutes 20 miles to work 5 days a week (round trip)

    While this driver’s age and commuting distance are the same as the first driver’s, this second driver has a less reliable driving and credit record. As a result, the second driver poses a greater cost risk for insurance providers. If this second driver were to submit a claim to cover damage to their vehicle, the driver’s poor history and additional claim may very well result in a raise in the cost for coverage.

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