Car Insurance Claims

We cannot underestimate the need for car insurance. Not only is it mandatory in some states in the United States, but it is something one just cannot do without these days. There are many litigious people out there and even a bumper incident will develop into a federal type court case. Having insurance will save you money and time and spare you days or months of aggravation. It’s true that car insurance can be expensive but you should see the expense as an investment in the future of you and your family. What about insurance claims?

With all of the automobiles on the road today there is a good chance that you may become involved in an accident even if it is only a fender bender. However, making the claim for damage to your car is fairly simple. You call your insurance company and make your claim; the insurance adjuster will visit you and inspect the damage to your car and estimate the cost of repairs; and after he has made the estimate he notifies your insurance carrier and they send you a check to repair the car. However, all claims must be accompanied by proof of damage or injury.

In an auto insurance there are some things that come up that should be considered and they are; the story you tell about the accident; the story the other side tells about the same accident; the report of the police that have been dispatched to the scene of the accident; any witnesses that may have been at the scene and saw what happened and are willing to talk about it; and the actual physical damage or injury at the scene of the accident. There are eight steps you should take when involved in an accident that will make the claim easier to make and contain all necessary elements:

• Get a police report by calling 911 or the police directly
• Exchange all information: personal, license plates, insurance companies, names and addresses of all people involved, and most important get phone numbers
• Get all contact information from witnesses that would be willing to tell what they saw
• Contact your insurance company immediately. You may want to use your cell phone to call them from the accident scene
• If the other party is the cause of the accident than inform their insurance company that you intend to file a claim.
• You will eventually get a call from the other insurance company. When you do ask your insurance company what information you can give to the other company. This is most important if there is an injury involved.
• Either an insurance adjuster will come out or you will be directed to the auto repair shop that the insurance company deals with. If the adjuster comes out he will make an estimate for repair or replacement of the auto. If you are directed to a repair shop they will do the estimate there and you can either have their estimated terms or have your own repair shop do the work and absorb the cost. In the latter case discuss the matter with your insurance company.
•  If there is a dispute than let your carrier know and they will arbitrate that dispute on your behalf. An arbitration can take anywhere from four to six weeks and in the meantime the insurance company will pay you the money that was offered and when the dispute is resolved you will receive the increased amount, if there is one.