Auto Insurance And The Claims Process

If you are involved in an automobile accident, there are certain procedures you should follow in filing your auto insurance claim, and the procedures are the same whether or not you were at fault. So if you have recently taken auto insurance with a new carrier, you should avoid driving until you are completely familiar with the claim procedures that carrier has in place. If you have gone over the procedures and still need clarification on some of the points, don't hesitate to give your insurance agent a call with your questions.

Many drivers will hesitate to file a claim following a fender bender, simply because they fear it will lead to a hike in their auto insurance premiums. So if you are involved in an accident with such a driver, make certain to exchange names and telephone numbers if you live n a state where auto insurance is not required. If your state requires every driver to be insured, ask for the other driver's insurance card and copy down both the driver's personal details and the insurance company information. Do this even if the vehicular damage is minimal.

Witnesses Are Important

If you are involved in an accident for which there are witnesses, also ask for their names and numbers to pass along to your auto insurance carrier. You may need them to testify if there are any legal charges brought as a result of the accident. And even if the other driver offers to pay for the damages to your car on the spot, you should still file your accident report. If you end up needing to submit an insurance claim to your insurance carrier, you will need the accident report, and you should never agree if someone asks you not to file a claim.

Once you have taken care of the accident report, you need to get in touch with your auto insurance agent or company and provide them with the details of the accident to the best of your recollection. You will aloes provide the accident report and witness information, and you need to do all of it as soon as possible. Your claims adjuster cannot verify who caused the accident or process your claim without your input.

If the other driver was at fault, you can file the claim for damages with his or her auto insurance company, and you will not have to worry about paying a deductible on your repairs, as you would if you were at fault.

Hold Your Ground

If you require repairs to your vehicle, or treatment for injuries because of the accident, do not sign any releases until you are sure everything has been properly taken care of. There are often other factors to consider following an accident, like the wages you lost for missing work, or the expense of using a rental car while yours was being repaired. You will be pressured by your auto insurance company to release them as soon as possible from any further claims, but do nothing until you are completely happy with your situation.