If you have been involved in a car crash, chances are that your car has damage. When this happens, you will want to file a car insurance claim. This is when you request financial compensation through your insurance after damage to your car or you have been injured in a vehicle accident. Filing a claim can be confusing, but if you follow these steps, the process will go smoothly.
Contact Your Insurance Company
The first step is to contact your insurance company. It will be vital to do this as soon as possible with as much information about the accident as attainable. Your car accident lawyer can help organize all of the information needed to give your insurance company.
Let your insurance know first what vehicle they covered was involved in and who was driving that vehicle. Next, note the location, the time of the accident, and a basic description of the accident and how severe the damage to the vehicle was. If you could attain it, give them the name and insurance information of the other driver involved and the names and contact information of others involved and witnesses. Once all of this information is given to your insurance company, make sure you take notes and write down the claim number provided by them. You should also note the name and direct phone number of the person you talked with regarding the claim.
File A Police Report
Your insurance company will likely want to know the number for the police report. Of course, a report should be done at the scene of the accident. But if it was missed amidst the chaos of the accident scene, you still have the option to go to the police station and file a report after the accident occurred. Once you receive the number, you will want to pass it on to your insurance company.
Wait For The Insurance Adjuster
Once the insurance company has all the necessary information, they will assign an insurance adjuster to your claim, who will most likely contact you to collect additional information regarding the accident. Make sure you give them the facts and do not give them any descriptions of the accident that are purely speculation. If you have photos of the accident, be sure to give them to the adjuster and any contact information of any witnesses.
Once the adjuster receives all the required information, they will inspect the damage to your vehicle. They may also ask you to take it to a certified repair shop so they can perform a proper inspection.
Keep in mind that the conversation you have with the adjuster will aid in deciding who was ultimately at fault, so ensure you are giving accurate information and provide them with as much evidence as possible to show you were not at fault.
Get The Report From The Adjuster
Afterward, the adjuster will assess all the facts and information you have given them, including your insurance coverage, the vehicle damage, and all the evidence you provided. They will then give an initial estimate of what it would cost to repair your vehicle. With this estimate from either the adjuster or the auto repair shop, your insurance company will take it and determine how much they will pay for your repairs.
Receive Payment
After all that is said and done, the adjuster will authorize your final payment. If you gave them all the information and evidence you were not at fault and had good insurance coverage on your vehicle, you should receive a good amount to put towards repairs. Once the payment is authorized, you must sign a release accepting the offer as payment in full for the claim.
