First of all, we first have to understand what an insurance claim is. In this way we can better appreciate the whole procedure and it just becomes easy to follow because we already know what to do step by step, in relation to the whole process.
A claim is when you ask the insurance company to compensate you for the damages you have suffered after a car accident, or when you ask the insurance company to represent you or intervene on your behalf when you are responsible for the damages .
You pay a lot of money for your car insurance, so it makes sense that if you are involved in an accident, you want to file a claim. Depending on whether the accident is responsible or not, and the type of damage, your insurance company may provide coverage based on the type of auto insurance coverage you have.
Claims can be paid with comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, or any of the auto insurance minimum requirements sections such as liability. Claims can also be paid from various sections of your policy, depending on the circumstances of your car accident.
If you’re wondering if your collision claim process will be more difficult to endure than the accident itself, the good news is that filing a claim is usually pretty simple. By following a systematic approach and carefully recording what has happened, you can gather all the information you need. The following guidelines will help you make sure the process runs smoothly.
ABOUT THE ACCIDENT SCENE
One of the best ways to speed up the entire claims process is to start on the right foot, and that begins at the scene of the accident. The more good information and evidence you can collect there, the better.
This is what you will get:
- Personal information: Try to get basic personal information from everyone present. That includes all other drivers, passengers, and bystanders. Get their names, phone numbers, and home and email addresses. Anything that makes it easier to find them later. If you have time, take a few notes on what each witness saw and heard. Pass all of this information on to your claims adjuster, but be sure to keep copies for yourself.
- Insurance information: This is particularly important. Be sure to exchange insurance information with the drivers of all vehicles involved in the accident. This will probably be the first thing your adjuster asks for.
- Photos: Take lots of photos of the accident scene. If you can get photos before vehicles veer off the road, great, but don’t create a dangerous situation just to take them. Definitely take photos of all the damage to your car, all the other vehicles involved, and anything else. Also take some pictures of the accident site. A few different angles are always helpful. Take pictures of the parties involved and all witnesses, if you can. And finally, take photos of the insurance card of each part.
- Compliance with the law: Always call the police after an accident. They may or may not respond, but it’s always worth a try. When they arrive, be sure to get the names of the officers. They will collect their own information and conduct interviews for your report, and will instruct you on how to obtain a copy of the report once it is written. Keep any paperwork they give you and give copies to your adjuster.
Contact your insurer as soon as possible
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “most crimes are solved in the first 48 hours after the incident.” That’s because the crime scene remains intact and the details are still fresh in the witnesses’ minds. It is something like that with a car accident. We are not talking about a crime here (I hope), but the idea still works. The sooner you contact your insurer, the easier it will be to make the necessary inquiries to obtain the most accurate data. It’s not a bad idea to call them from the scene of the accident, if possible.
Be cooperative and punctual
Most small accidents are relatively simple for your adjuster to handle. He or she has done them hundreds of times. That does not mean that a claim cannot be supported by some missing piece of evidence or information.
If your adjuster calls you and leaves a message to call you back, please do so as soon as you can. Good communication between the insurer and the claimant is vital. Also, it’s hard to complain about slow processing if you’re the one stopping it.
Be honest
This rule seems obvious, but not everyone follows it. It is human to want to avoid pain, and admitting that you are to blame for your accident can be quite painful. But if you’re at fault, don’t try to get away with lying. First of all, insurance adjusters have a lot of experience with accidents and fibbers.
They are very good at finding out what really happened and that can be quite bad for you if you are not so frank with the facts. Remember the “double indemnity”? Insurance fraud is frowned upon and could cost you a lot more money than the premium increase you are likely to get from admitting fault.
And if you are looking for a quick conclusion to the claims process, being dishonest is sure to slow you down and sometimes stop you altogether.
