Most people do not know how to file an auto insurance claim. The problem is, with so many vehicles on the road, the chances of having a car accident are extremely high. Having stated that, it is important to know how to file an auto insurance claim. If you already know your auto insurance quotes, then you know how much your car is technically worth if you were to get into an accident. At any rate, there are certain steps that you should really follow if you need to file a claim.
Police Report/Incident Report
At the site of the accident, make sure there are no serious or life threatening injuries. If there are, take care of that first and call 911. Obviously, you need to call the police because you really need a police report of the accident. If the officer refuses to file a report, claiming it is not in their jurisdiction, make sure you ask for an incident report. You need this.
Collecting Important Information
Find out the other party’s license plate number, contact information, and auto insurance information so that you can deal with insurance later. Even though there is the insurance ID card, there may be some missing information so don’t hesitate to find out the rest, like phone numbers.
Contact Information For Witnesses
Make sure you have a witness willing to relay exactly what they saw. Once you have done so, do not forget to get their contact information as well. When filing an auto insurance claim, you don’t always have to have a witness, because the police report will do just as well. At any rate you have to have some form of proof saying you were not at fault. This is important because if you are not at fault, the insurance company can’t raise your rates.
File Your Claim As Soon As Possible
Some insurance companies have a twenty four hour filing claim service by phone. If you are able, you might want to contact your insurance company and file the auto insurance claim soon after the accident. At any rate, you want to contact them as soon as possible. Even if you weren’t at fault, your own insurance company will ensure your needs are met sooner than later. If the other party is at fault, let their insurance company know that you are filing a claim and you will seek to be repaid for any costs that your insurance will not cover.
Write A Statement
Prepare yourself by writing a statement about what happened. Check with your insurance provider about what needs to be said. In case of a lawsuit, it’s also a good idea to go over exactly what you will say, so that your statement is consistent.
How to file an Auto Insurance Claim
Of course, after filing the insurance claim, there will be someone there to find out how much you should be owed for the car being damaged. All in all, filing an auto insurance claim isn’t exactly a complete mess, and with perseverance it is possible to get what you want.