Submit Your Car Insurance Claim Without Going Crazy

Having car insurance is important legally and financially. Anyone who owns a car must also purchase insurance for it. The kind of insurance policy and amount of coverage you have depends on how much you are able or willing to spend on it. A less expensive insurance quote with minimal coverage can be generated in minutes using the internet. Purchasing comprehensive coverage is more expensive but has the advantage of bringing peace of mind.

A person has to submit a car insurance claim if his car is stolen or damaged in an accident. Submitting a car insurance claim is not very difficult. If a person has an accident then he is required to file a claim. He should immediately inform his insurance agent or the company through which he has bought insurance about the damage, theft or accident.

Submission of your auto insurance claim after an accident or theft must be accompanied by the filing of a police report. A copy of the report will go to the insurance company. This is especially important when there are deaths or injuries resulting from a car accident. You will also need to gather and share with your insurance carrier all pertinent details of the car theft or accident. These details include names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses and other people involved in as well as the time and place at which the event took place.

The insurance company or the agent generally inquires about the loss, damage or accident. They give information about various forms to be filled and formalities to be complied with. The person filing the claim should give all the information about the event to the insurance agent or company. The claimant should inquire from his insurance agent about the existence of any fixed duration for submitting his claim.

If your insurance policy includes collision coverage, then you should receive compensation for damage from any accident, even if it involved another vehicle or inanimate objects such as trees or walls. Ask your agent about having your car repaired. The agent should inform you of not only any repair estimate requirements, but also which auto repair/body shops you should go to for these. If anything is unclear, ask your question again, as it is better to inquire more than once than to learn later that you will have to pay such amounts out-of-pocket, etc.

If you have not been informed yet of the time frame for a settlement, inquire again. Time frame is important because in the meantime you must have access to a rental car, which your policy may or may not cover. If car rental is not included in your policy, then a longer settlement time frame could result in additional expenses for you. You should also double-check on any other benefits included in your policy.

If you have a good insurance company and agent, you will not have trouble obtaining information as needed about your policy and benefits during the claims process. If your policy includes comprehensive coverage, you will have an even easier time than the rest of us. Out-of-pocket expenses will not be as much of a concern for you, as your insurance carrier will pay for most or all damages.

The car insurance claims filing process does not have to be a nightmare. It can be a relatively simple and worry-free submission, especially if you keep your head on straight and remain assertive, persistent and smart. The process will flow more smoothly and you will see your compensation that much more quickly.