How to File An Auto Insurance Claim

Take a pro-active role in the auto insurance claim process!

As most of us know, insurance companies provide a direct service to you when filing a claim.  This direct process is meant to relieve the stress and anxiety for you, the insured, to make the situation less overwhelming than it already is.  The goal should be to return you to normalcy and the routines of daily living as quickly as possible.  A good auto insurance company should be able to help you do this, but you can also play a role.

One simple thing which is about as important as everything else is knowing who to call if you have a claim.  Your proof of insurance should have a contact number, but it is just as important to have the number of your agent just as close at hand.  If you should need to file a claim, contact your agent as soon as possible.  They should be able to guide you through this process.  This will go a long way in avoiding misunderstandings and will prevent undue delay in getting your claim processed.

To avoid unpleasant surprises it is just as important to KNOW WHAT YOUR POLICY COVERS!  Do not rely on an auto insurance claims department to provide this education for you.  By then it is usually too late.  Cars weigh several tons.  When they are barreling down the highway at 70 miles an hour they can cause lots of damage in many different ways.  Each year more than 42,000 people die in automobile accidents.  Hundreds of thousands more are permanently injured.  Billions are spent repairing broken fenders and broken arms caused by auto accidents every year.  Many people only become familiar with their policy after a claim.  A wise person will have a basic understanding of how they are covered in a variety of situations.

Being inadequately protected can easily destroy everything you’ve worked your entire life for.  Only you can determine how much auto insurance you need.  But let this be a calculated decision that you make after thinking about different scenarios and weighing different variables.  Will a little forethought, it is possible to protect yourself and your family against most risks without breaking your budget.

Automobile accidents are among the most stressful events life has to offer.  It is difficult to imagine unless you’ve actually experienced one.  If you are injured, if a love one is injured, or if you have injured someone the last thing you will want to think about is your auto insurance company’s claim filing process yet this will be of central importance to your life in the midst of other woes.  Auto insurance companies offer add-ons to their policies that every motorist should have.  These include rental, towing, and roadside assistance.  Just as you would buy a spare tire with a new car if it were optional, you should also buy these add-ons.  They will go a long way in making a stressful event a little more bearable.

Third, patience is a very important virtue!  In some cases, the claims process can be lengthy and drawn out.  Although this can seem frustrating, it is important for the investigation to take place and the claims Adjuster to look at the circumstances surrounding the incident.  During this time keep in mind that you will want to make sure that you interact directly with the claims adjuster whenever there is an opportunity.  This is a positive and the more times the better as this is your opportunity to discuss every possible detail of the claim helping make you part of the process and the process go smoother.  If you are prompt and efficient with your discussions for the claim, you are more likely to know what is happening in the process.  If at any time you feel you are not getting a prompt response from the company or claims adjuster, talk directly to your agent, or talk with a supervisor from the claims department.  As an insured you have the right to know how things are progressing.  Make sure you have the correct contact information for the adjuster and claims representative, as well as specific times that you can reach them.  Although they are aware of your circumstances and time, you need to remind them of your schedule and compromise convenience.  Also, during this process you may be seeing a specialist or medical professional for your ailments.  Ensure that you are securing all documents from your visits, and what you are paying out of pocket.  This may be pertinent information that will be handed off to the insurance company for further follow-up.

Finally, schedule a follow-up appointment with your agent to discuss your policies.  If you have any claim on your account for any reason, you may face a rate increase.  This is a good opportunity for you to revisit your policy information again and evaluate your coverages while understanding what will be effective upon renewal.  At that time, your agent can determine not only a “short term” plan for you, but also a “long-term” plan too.  

Aside from an auto insurance companies willingness to process the premium check you send in every month (most of them have that part down rather well) there is really no way to judge standards of excellence until you file a claim.  If you file a claim and you are treated with respect and your claim is handled fairly and in a timely fashion, you should think twice about switching to another auto insurance company because the auto insurance you are with would have passed the most important acid test.  Yes, your rates may go up even if it is determined that you were not at fault.  But other auto insurance companies will also factor in your driving history as well and you may not end up paying significantly less elsewhere.  If you have an agent who promptly returns your phone call and goes to bat for you, you have something that is priceless.

Hopefully you already have an agent who is patient and helpful and is willing to make sense of the intricacies of your policies.  Here are some great questions that you can ask upon your next visit with your agent.  These are guidelines when discussing your policy, and looking at the needs for you and your loved ones.

• State insurance guidelines mandate minimum coverages under the state law. 
• What are my state law requirements and what benefit do they provide for me? 
• What claims department does your company use, and how have they been rated? 
• How does my policy protect me and loved ones that are in my home? 
• What are the benefits of having multiple insurance policies with one company? 
• What is my obligation when signing an insurance agreement with your company? 
• How does my Motor Vehicle Report affect my rates, and for how long? 
• How does my credit score contribute in how I am being rated and the premiums I am paying?  
• How does an insurance company define risk for me or anyone living in my home? 
• What are some preventative steps that I can take as a homeowner or renter to avoid claims and get better rates? 
• If there is ever something you don’t understand ask your agent!  That’s what they get paid for, and they should always be willing to help.  Good luck to you in your auto insurance ventures!