Quick guide to an insurance claim

Before anything else, we first have to understand what an insurance claim is. 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’re in an accident, you’d want to file a claim. Depending on whether or not the accident is at fault, and the type of damage, your insurance company may be able to cover you based on the type of auto insurance coverage you have.

Claims can be paid from 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 auto accident.

If you’re wondering if your collision claim process will be more difficult to deal with than the accident itself, the good news is that filing a claim is usually pretty straightforward. By following a systematic approach and carefully recording what has happened, you can collect all the information you need. The following guidelines will help you ensure the process runs smoothly.

AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE

One of the best ways to speed up the entire claim process is to start off on the right foot, and that starts at the scene of the accident. The more good information and evidence you can collect there, the better.

This is what you should get:

• Personal information: Try to get basic personal information from everyone at the scene. That includes all other drivers, passengers, and bystanders. Get their names, phone numbers and addresses, and email addresses. Anything that makes it easier to find them later. If you have time, take 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. It’s probably the first thing your adjuster asks for.
• Photos: Take plenty of photos of the accident scene. If you can get photos before vehicles move 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 other vehicles involved, and anything else. Take some pictures of the accident site as well. A few different angles are always helpful. Take pictures of the parties involved and all witnesses, if you can. And finally, take photos of each party’s insurance card.
• Law Enforcement: Always call the police after an accident. They may or may not be able to answer, 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 instruct you on how to obtain a copy of the report once it is written. Save any paperwork you are given 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 within 48 hours of the incident.” That’s because the crime scene remains intact and the details are still fresh in the minds of the witnesses. It’s kind of like that with a car accident. We’re not talking about a crime here (I hope), but the idea still works. The sooner you contact your insurer, the easier it will be for you to make the inquiries you need to get the most accurate data. It’s not a bad idea to call them from the scene of the accident, if possible.

Be cooperative and quick

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 stopped by some missing evidence or information.

If your adjuster calls you and leaves a message for you to call back, please do so as soon as possible. Good communication between the insurer and the claimant is vital. Also, it’s hard to complain about slow processing if you’re the one holding it up.

Be honest

This rule seems obvious, but not everyone follows it. It’s human to want to avoid pain, and admitting that you were at fault for your accident can be quite painful. But if you are to blame, don’t try to lie your way out of it. First of all, insurance adjusters have a lot of experience with accidents and lies.

They’re really good at finding out what really happened and that can be pretty bad for you if you’re not that forthcoming with the facts. Remember “Double Indemnity”? Insurance fraud is frowned upon and could cost you much more money than the premium increase you are likely to get from admitting fault.

And if you’re looking for a quick conclusion to the claims process, being dishonest will surely slow you down and sometimes stop you.