How to File a Car Insurance Claim

Contact your agent. Company sends you a claim form. Fill up the form. Then the company sends an adjuster to verify the damage. He verifies. Then you get the check. It sounds so simple and easy. But no! It is not that easy and simple. Follow the following tips in filing your car insurance claim.

Contact the insurance company as fast as possible. Some companies fix certain period of time for filing a claim. Many people don’t care that insurance companies maintain record for claims. To maintain a claim record clean, don’t make claim for minor accidents. Always avoid making too many claims in a year. Otherwise, the company would cancel your policy. They don’t want policyholders with high risk factors. Don’t hesitate to make covered claims but avoid deceiving claims. Enquire any doubt immediately before you need the claim.

Stay away from lawyers if you can. Insurance companies feel uneasy in case lawyers or other legal proceedings are involved. In case you hire an attorney, most of the communications would be between him and the company. There would be lesser involvement of you.

Keep a copy of the police report with you if it is an accident or collision. Don’t forget to take down name, address, phone number and name of the other party's insurance company. Try to avoid offering to pay for damages to the other party and don’t accept your fault on the spot. Show and make estimates from at least two repairers of your car. It will help you in giving more accurate costs.

Maintain each and every evidence and document to show to the insurance company. It is good if you can show all the evidences through videotapes and photographs. Just support your claim with the best evidences.

If there is some dispute with the other party regarding the accident, be prepared for possible calls from the other party’s insurance company. In such a case, make sure you document everything you say and the name of the customer service agent you talked to. Get an accident report prepared through the local law enforcement officers. Detailed instructions can be obtained from police stations and Motor Vehicles offices.

Be aware of the answers to following questions:

How much liability insurance do you have? This coverage pays for damage you cause to another vehicle or injuries to other people.

Does your state have no-fault insurance? What coverage does it provide?

What is the deductible for your collision and/or comprehensive coverage?

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