[A802]Auto Insurance Claim Settlement

If you are a new driver, you need a quick but dependable guide to the world of auto insurance and claims. The first thing you want to do is get up to speed before you need to file a claim. You can either study the following tips and be prepared, or wait for an accident and fumble your way through. The smart choice should be obvious!

Most states require at least a minimum amount of car insurance, but if a bank or other lien holder still owns your car (has the "pink slip") you may need to have more comprehensive coverage. The more complete policies will not only protect you and you auto in case of fire, theft, accidents and other disasters, it will protect any other persons or vehicles that are involved if, in fact, you are at fault. If you already have purchased insurance, you should review it regularly, at least annually, to ensure that it is sufficient for your changing needs.

Rather than assembling a list of "tips," let's walk through the issues that you will actually face, and do it in the order it will likely occur. The first thing to do, before you get involved in any sort of mishap or accident, is make sure you have your policy card in your wallet or purse, and another copy in the car's glove-box.

Now, what should you do if you are an insured motorist and you get in an accident? What steps you should take, in what order, to get your claim handled quickly and accurately?

The first thing you do is gauge the extent of the injuries and wreckage so that you know which call to make first. If you were involved in a 2mph fender-bender in a parking lot, that first call should be to your insurance agent. The police will rarely even show up for non-injury accidents these days. On the other hand, for a serious accident, the first call should obviously go to 911. Get help on the scene at once.

Then you should call your insurance company. You should make this phone call just as soon as you ca, as long as you do not leave the scene to do so. Luckily, in this day and age most people carry cell phones, so if you don't have one someone nearby will. You want your insurance company "on the job" and "on the case" at the earliest opportunity.

The next issue involves towing the car to an auto body shop. You should have towing coverage if you have a "full" policy, otherwise you will pay out of pocket for this. The other body shop issue concerns which party chooses the repair shops, you or the insurer. It is faster if you use one of the company's approved service providers, but you can probably get your choice of repair facility approved, too. This is something you should take care of before you need to, frankly.

Early in the process, probably as soon as the repair facility has your auto, your insurance company will have you fill out an accident report and submit any medical records that result from treatment following the incident. This will give the claims adjusters the information they need to determine what portion of your expenses are covered by your policy.

Claims adjusters have a very specific role and certain well-defined tasks that they are supposed to handle efficiently within a certain, reasonable amount of time. This varies from company to company and state to state, but generally speaking the adjuster will manage your insurance claim process, assemble all relevant reports, keep you (the policy holder) in the loop, quantify the damages to your person and your vehicle, deal with the repair facility and shepherd all the paperwork through the company channels to a resolution that is mutually agreeable.

One major issue is always time. The claims process is never as fast as anyone wants it to be. You can help things along by providing the medical information and accident details in a timely, efficient and painstaking manner. This will help your insurance company get to work on your settlement and handle the process in the least amount of time, like "right away."

There are some preparatory measures you should take, too. Make sure that you have a copy of your insurance policy, or at least your policy card with the number on it, in your wallet/purse and auto. Since photos of any incident can be very useful in negotiating an insurance settlement, you should consider keeping a low-priced digital camera (or a one-time-use model, which sells for around $10) in your car, too.

It also helps to have the name of at least one person at your insurance company with whom you stay in at least occasional contact. Consider making a call sometime to discuss with your insurer just what your best practices and available options are when you have various kinds of accidents or need to make certain kinds of claims.

Finally, save the number of the 24-hour claims line in your cell phone's memory so you don't have to read a number from a card in the dark. If you do get in an accident, you want to be just four "pushed buttons" away from having everything handled: three buttons for 911, and the single-digit speed dial assignment for your insurance company. Now that's the way to be prepared.