Tips for Filing an Auto Insurance Claim - Insurance Swami

All automobile accidents are traumatic and the last thing you need after that type of event is more trauma or excitement when filing your insurance claim. Whether you are in a minor fender-bender or a major collision, following are some tips to make the claim process as easy and pain-free as possible.

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Whether major or not, all accidents are traumatic.

Notify You Insurance Provider
Hopefully you notified your car insurance company at the time of the accident, but if you didn?t now is certainly the time. Get them involved as soon as possible. Car insurance companies handle accidents and claims on a daily basis, and generally speaking, the insurance companies are in the business of helping you. They have a vested interest (keeping your business!) in helping you through the claims process. Their claims agents and other team members are trained to help you remain calm and to take the steps necessary to protect yourself from making poor decisions in the ?heat of the moment? which may result in additional damage, injury or unnecessary legal liability.

They also have a vested interest in making sure that medical issues are identified as soon as possible. Early identification and treatment can often address medical issues before they become serious. The benefits are pretty obvious to both parties, you receive the right treatment to keep you healthy and the car insurance companies avoid costly medical expenses.

Good Record Keeping
Settlement of claims is sped up by good record keeping.

It may seem obvious, but with the adrenaline pumping even the most obvious actions may fall by the wayside: be sure to get as much information about the other people involved in the accident as possible. Some policyholders assume that this is law enforcement?s responsibility, and while they are right, it?s a good idea to capture your own information in the event that the officer makes an error.

Keep good records to help with the claims process.

Basic Information
Certainly you want to capture the name, driver?s license number and contact information of the other driver(s) involved in the accident, as well as their insurance information (Company, policy number, etc.). You should also capture the names of passengers involved in the accident. While the passenger information is often unnecessary (assuming a minor incident), capturing this information can help to prevent insurance fraud, whereby someone who was involved in an accident alleges to be to file a false claim. Again, law enforcement should have this angle covered, but it doesn?t hurt to have your own set of records ?just in case.?

Pictures and Documentation
Especially with the proliferation of ?smartphones? many people travel with cameras these days. If you have a camera with you, take photos of the cars (be sure to capture both the damage and the not damaged aspects), surroundings (weather, road condition, etc.) and other pertinent items. More information is better than less and pictures are ?worth a thousand words.?

Supplement these photos with a written account of the events. If you?ve engaged your auto insurance company at the scene, odds are they have asked you to tell them what happened. They are recording the conversation and the agent involved is taking notes as you speak (while you?re on the line, write down the name and contact information of the insurance agent that you are speaking with).

Adrenaline may still be flowing freely causing you to overlook a key fact, or you may just remember an additional detail later on. Document your own account of the incident while it is fresh in your mind (i.e. that day or the next). If you remember something that you think is less than trivial, contact your insurance provider to update them on the additional information. Also be sure to get the ?case number? from the law enforcement officer; this is critical to filing the claim and for timely processing.

Settling the Claim
Now that you have captured information about the accident, you can focus your attention on getting your claim filed as quickly as possible. While your insurance provider may have been your best friend to this point, this is usually where divergence occurs. Obviously, the insurance company will want to settle the claim for as low a cost as possible. You want to be ?made whole? for your loss. These two forces are often in opposition to one another.

More Record Keeping
Record keeping comes in to play here as well. Gather as many receipts and records as possible. From receipts pertaining to after-market wheels to service maintenance records, any information you can bring to substantiate the value of your vehicle will serve you well. In the absence of information to support a higher value, the insurance company will default to a minimum claim standard.

Approved Service Providers
In case emergency repairs are needed request a list of all companies authorized to make such repairs by the insurance company. Don?t take action without this information, as you may find that the company you have chosen is not on an approved list or that the insurance company won?t pay you the full cost of repairs the company is charging. In many cases, the company performing the repairs will send the bill directly to the insurance company. Therefore, the necessary paperwork for this type of repair must be obtained from the insurance company. Also, request all repair estimates in writing before agreeing to the repair.

The same thing goes with medical claims. Unless it is an emergency, check with your insurance company about allowed providers. They may have restrictions that you should know about, or specific paperwork/documentation that the provider will need to complete. Note that medical claims related directly to an accident are covered by your auto insurance policy, but nothing else. Be sure to keep meticulous records of medical issues stemming from an accident (as opposed to day to day living) to help you avoid disputes between your auto insurance provider and your health insurance providers. Each may claim the liability is the responsibility of the other company, and detailed records will help you to ensure you claim is adequately addressed by the appropriate party.

Communication with Your Insurance Provider
It is essential to document all communications with the agent and the insurance company in as much detail as possible. In case of a later dispute related to the claim, all documentations of the conversations with the insurance company will be of great help. It will also help to keep track of the name and contact information of any person in the insurance company that you speak with about the claim, and to document the results of these conversations.

Make sure you understand and agree with the claim settlement agreement before you sign.

Final Settlement
You should be present when the insurance adjuster inspects your vehicle in order to indicate any damage the adjuster may have missed. Take notes of the actions and comments the adjuster makes while inspecting the property. Final settlement with the insurance company should not be accepted until the policy holder feels that the settlement is reasonable. Repair estimates from local mechanics or auto-body shops may be sought if you do not agree with the insurance company?s estimations.

Before singing anything, it is crucial to ask a lot of questions. Be as independently informed as possible in regards to the damage incurred, cost to repair, etc. and know the exact limits of your coverage. Only when you are satisfied that you have been treated fairly and in compliance with your policy should you sign a settlement agreement. If you feel you are not being treated fairly, contact your State?s insurance department or legal counsel for assistance with resolving your claim to your satisfaction.

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Source: http://www.insuranceswami.com/2012/tips-for-filing-an-auto-insurance-claim/

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