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Before anything else, we must first understand what an insurance claim is. In this way we can understand the whole process in a better way and it becomes easy to go through as we already know what to do step by step regarding the whole process.
A claim is when you ask an insurance company to compensate you for damages caused after a car accident, or when you ask the insurance company to represent you or act on your behalf when you are liable for damages Are.
You pay a lot of money for your car insurance, so it is understandable that if you are involved in an accident, you would want to make a claim. Depending on whether or not the accident is responsible, and the type of damage, your insurance company will be able to provide coverage based on the type of car insurance coverage you have.
Claims can be paid from comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, or any minimum car insurance requirement section, such as liability. Claims may also be paid from multiple sections of your policy depending on the circumstances of your car accident.
If you’re wondering whether the process for your collision claims will be more difficult than for an accident, the good news is that filing a claim is usually quite simple. By following a systematic approach and carefully recording what happened, you can gather all the information you need. The following guidelines will help you ensure that the process goes smoothly.
at the scene of the accident
One of the best ways to speed up the entire claims process is to start right, and that starts at the accident site itself. The more good information and evidence you can gather out there, the better.
Here’s what to get:
- personal data: Try to get basic personal information from everyone at the scene. This includes all other drivers, passengers and bystanders. Get their names, phone numbers and home and email addresses. Anything that will make it easier to find them later. If you have time, make some notes about what each witness saw and heard. Send all of this information to your claims adjuster, but be sure to keep copies for yourself.
- insurance information: This is especially important. Be sure to exchange insurance information with the drivers of all vehicles involved in the accident. This will probably be one of the first things your adjuster will ask you.
- pictures: Take lots of pictures of the accident scene. If you can get photos before the vehicles are out of the way, great, but don’t create a dangerous situation just to take them. Be sure to take pictures of all damage to your car, all other vehicles involved, and anything else. Also take some photographs of the accident site. Some different angles are always helpful. If you can, take photographs of the parties involved and all witnesses. 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 respond, but it’s always worth a try. Be sure to take the names of the officers when they arrive. They will collect their own information and conduct interviews for their report, and will instruct you on how to obtain a copy of the report after it has been written. Grab whatever paperwork they give you, and pass the copies on to your adjuster.
Contact your insurer as soon as possible
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Most crimes are solved within the first 48 hours of the incident.” This is because the crime scene is intact and the details are still fresh in the minds of the witnesses. It is similar to an auto accident. We’re not talking about offense here (I hope), but the idea still works. The sooner you contact your insurer, the easier it will be for them to make the necessary inquiries to obtain the most accurate data. It’s not a bad idea to call them from the accident site, if possible.
be cooperative and prompt
Most minor accidents are relatively simple for your adjuster to handle. He or she has done them hundreds of times. This does not mean that the claim cannot be made because of missing evidence or information.
If your adjuster calls you and leaves a message asking you to call back, do so as soon as possible. Good communication between the insurer and the claimant is important. Plus, it’s hard to complain about slow processing if you’re holding onto it.
be honest
This rule seems obvious, but not everyone follows it. Avoiding pain is human, and admitting that you were to blame for the accident can be painful enough. But if it’s your fault, don’t try to get away with it by lying. First, insurance adjusters have a lot of experience with accidents and fiascos.
They are really good at finding out what really happened and this can be very bad for you if you are less than forthcoming with the facts. Remember “Double Indemnity”? Insurance fraud is considered wrongful and can cost you a lot more money than the premium increase you get from admitting fault.
And if you are looking for a quick conclusion to the claims process, being dishonest will certainly slow it down, and sometimes crash it.
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