Submitting A Car Insurance Claim For The Uninitiated
Do not feel left out if you have never submitted an insurance claim. It is not one of the easiest things to do. Just like most of us out there, your day will come when you will have to deal with an insurance company regarding a claim. Listed below is a step-by-step guide to help you through your first insurance claim experience.
As a pre-step to the first step, let me just say that the best thing you can do for yourself is to get a cheap car insurance quote. Remember the cheaper your quote the less you will have to pay monthly.
Now, policy in hand, you may venture out on the roads. Itas a good idea to keep a copy of your insurance companyas telephone number in the glove box with your proof of insurance. Always drive carefully, but proceed with special caution if that policy is too cheap!
You are sitting at a stop light thinking about how you need to stop by the drug store on the way home but your too tired, another car slams into the back of you. You are disoriented but ok. First things first, you call the police. With the way the other person is mugging you can tell this is not the first thing they wanted to do. A word of advice though, insurance companies are much easier to deal with when the accident is not your fault and you have a police report saying so.
In case the accident WAS you fault, say you were changing lanes while fiddling with the radio and discussing the familyas Thanksgiving seating chart with cousin Betsy on your cell phone (aNo way! You absolutely canat sit Tom next to Rod, are you out of your mind?!a), you can probably skip that step. Itas likely the other driver will be more than happy to get the police involved.
Once the police are on the scene, follow their lead. If one or both of the cars need to be towed or moved out of the roadway, the cops will help you figure things out. Provide the police officers with whatever information they require, which is likely to include a look at your driveras license and proof of insurance.
Once you are given the go head you head home, or to moms to cry on someones shoulder. You get out the card that your insurance agent gave you and call him. Be prepared to wait a while, put in your favorite movie. No I am not kidding unfortunately.
A customer service representative will ask you pretty much all of the same questions the police officer did. Be sure to answer them honestly but carefully. They will probably ask for a copy of the police report which will take a week or two to get. They will be able to help you through the whole process, and explain again the ins and outs of your policy. If you need help finding and adjuster to assess the damage or find a body shop for repairs they should be able to help you with that as well. Now you can sit back and relax, because you have made it through your first claim and are back on the road with a little more knowledge than before.
Filed under: Cars