Whether a car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle
accident, if you have been involved in any kind of traffic accident you will unavoidably
have to handle your insurance company in addition to the insurance agents of
others involved in the accident.
Filing an insurance claim and handling
insurance adjusters can be quite a task.
Prior to taking out insurance coverage, policyholders are
wise to cautiously read and understand the policy procedures. The procedures
will offer information together with exclusions of what the policy will cover.
The majority of companies that provide car insurance have
various exclusions, rules, and regulations listed within the policy procedures
and brochures.
The companies also provide a 24-hour claims line where the
customer can call any time to make the company alert that an accident has
occurred and a claim is in the making.
To complete the forms the services may provide a measure of help.
They will save you time by sending you an "accident report form", if you notify
the company first. This form will provide complete instructions and once it is
completed, it is vital to send the form back to the company straight away.
You will need proof, evidence and any other information to
support the information provided on the claim form. It is recommended that
drivers carry with them at all times a working camera to take pictures of the
accident.
If possible, send any receipts of the accident, or other
documentation, sending only copies to the insurance company. For your own
records, keep the original copies of the accident in a secure environment.
Many insurance companies necessitate no less than two
estimates are provided to them and these estimates are required to be sent back
to the company for payment.
Some insurance companies will leave it up to the
policyholder to find the garages, get estimates, and submit these estimates to
the company. However, if the company recommends the garage, then the
policyholder is aware of taking the vehicle to this garage to avoid problems.
Regarding car
accident insurance claims, here are some essential do's and don'ts to remember:
- Do maintain
a written account of any conversations and dealings with the insurance
officers, agents, and any other people involved in the car accident
insurance claims process.
- Do
save receipts and bills for any expenses relating to your auto insurance
claims, bills for any repair work on the damaged vehicle, and any medical
costs incurred on the treatment of any injuries that are covered by your
insurance policy.
- Do speak
plainly and honest with the insurance investigators so that your claim is
not denied for fraudulent reasons.
- Do
check if you have more than one insurance policy that provides coverage
for the particular accident or injury. Many people have multiple insurance
policies under which they may be able to file suitable car accident insurance
claims. So, do take the time to appraise all your insurance policies.
- Do
contact your insurance company as soon after the accident or injury as
possible. Unless you have some very serious injuries to take care off,
your insurance agent is the first person to call in case of an accident or
injury.
- Do
take time to read your insurance policy and understand it. In determining
what coverage your policy allows, so as to make the necessary car accident
insurance claims this will help you.
- Do
your best to get as many details of the accident as possible. This will
include taking pictures of the damaged vehicles and any injuries
sustained.
Also, do try to note the names and numbers of any witnesses to
the accident who may later be able to make easier to prove your car
accident insurance claim.
- Do
make a note of the insurance details of any other person or vehicle
involved in the accident.
Don'ts
- Don't
let any time limits to file your insurance claim end. All insurance
companies require you to file an car accident insurance claim within particular
periods of time after the accident or injury.
So ensure that you don't
disregard this time limit or else your claim may not be considered valid.
- Don't
take everything that your insurance agent tells you as the last word, particularly
regarding the value of your claim or a settlement.
Insurance companies
always try to give you estimates of losses that are lower than your actual
losses. Without doing some estimation of your own, don't just accept their
estimates.
- Don't
sign any document that is a release or a waiver of any kind. Consult an
attorney for help if you are not sure about what you are being asked to
sign.
- Unless
you are certain that, it is a fair compensation for your losses don't take
any check as a full and final payment.
- Don't confess
to any kind of liability on your part but just follow the facts without articulating
any opinion. The ascertaining of liability is affected by different situations.
It is not your job to admit fault, but is the job of the insurance
investigators to collect all the essential facts and evidence and then find
out liability.
- If you
do not understand any part of your car accident insurance policy or claim,
whether you're own or the other party's, don't give anything in writing to
any insurance officers.
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