Even drivers who abide by the rules of the road, check their mirrors twice, and never speed can still be involved in an auto accident. There are a few key things you should do immediately following a crash (even if it’s a slow speed fender bender). First, make sure everyone in the vehicles involved is ok. Second, call 911 to report the incident. Three, exchange information with all involved drivers. Four, if need be start a claim with your car insurance company.
When you’re ready to file a car insurance claim after a crash, it’s also smart to know what information you will need to provide and how your car insurance works. Knowing what happens when you file a car insurance claim can help the claims process move more quickly and get the funds you need to repair your car as fast as possible. Also, it’s good to ask your car insurance provider if you have a limited time frame to file a claim following a crash. You wouldn’t want to have a 30-day window and try to file your claim after 40 days. You could run into a lot of trouble and financial hardship.
Every auto insurance company goes about handling claims in a slightly different way. But, most steps are pretty standardized and will not be overly complicated. Let’s take a look at what happens when you file a car insurance claim.
Accident + Motorist Information
The Insurance Information Institute (III) states drivers in an accident will be asked to provide information and documentation related to the accident or crash. Information you’ll want to get is:
- Name, contact info, vehicle & insurance information for all parties involved.
- Where, when, and the weather conditions
- Photos of damage to all vehicles involved.
- Names & badge number of officers and paramedics who respond to the accident
- Copies of the accident report
Know Your Insurance Coverage Levels (or ask)
Knowing what your auto insurance policy covers (and to what level) is important to know before you file a claim.
Auto Insurance Deductibles
When you bought auto insurance you chose deductible levels for different types of coverage, like comprehensive and collision coverage. Your deductible is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket towards repairs of your vehicle before insurance pays the full amount.
Knowing this number can help you plan financially as you’ll have to pay the deductible if you want your insurance company to complete the claim. If your collision deductible is $1,000 and the total damage to your car is $2,000, your insurance company will pay the remaining $1,000. If your deductible is $1,000 and the damage is $5,000 to your vehicle, your car insurance company will pay $4,000 after you’ve paid the $1,000 deductible.
Rental Reimbursement Coverage
If you get in a wreck and your car must go to the shop for repairs, you will most likely have some transportation costs to get to work, run errands, take your kids to school, and more. Rental reimbursement coverage (also known as transportation expense coverage) will reimburse you for money you spend on a rental car, taxis, or ride sharing services. Depending on your plan and coverage level, your insurer may provide up to $25 or more a day for transportation.
Time Frame to Submit a Claim
This is a very important piece of information to be aware of. If you don’t submit all the required documents within the set time frame to file a claim following a crash, you may not be eligible to receive the coverage that you’re paying for. If your car insurance policy states all collision claims must be made within 7 days following an accident and you wait 2 weeks to submit documents, you could be out of luck.
Also, keep in mind that different claims may have different times frames for filing. This is something you should be aware of.
Get Repair Estimates & Contact Your Insurance Adjuster
Car insurance companies will often send out an insurance adjuster to check on your car and see first hand what state the car is in (or the other motorist’s vehicle if you’re at fault). This helps them determine what damage was incurred and provide an estimate for what repairs will cost (labor and parts).
Some insurers will require you to get your own repair estimates so be sure you know what your plan requires. The mechanic you go to will send a report to the insurer and then the insurer will take that figure into account when determining how much they will pay towards repairs.
Get Your Vehicle Repaired
You typically have the option to choose what mechanic you take your vehicle to for repairs but your policy may vary. You can also ask the mechanic to use less expensive “OEM” or after-market parts to keep the repair costs lower. Your car insurance company will go about paying for repairs in one of two ways:
- Pay the mechanic/body shop directly
Or
- Pay the insured motorist directly.
If you have comprehensive or collision coverage and your car it totaled, your insurer will likely pay the ACV (actual cash value) of the vehicle, minus the deductible. ACV is the value of your car taking into account depreciation over time. If your car is financed and you owe more than what the car is actually worth, gap insurance can help you pay off the auto loan.
Not All Car Insurance Companies Make Claims Easy
Let’s face it, car insurance companies will try their very best to not pay for damages or car replacement. It isn’t personal but this is the model of the insurance business. Sell lots of policies with the hope that you never have to payout anything to those policy holders, and more often than not it works out for them. But, when they do need to pay out, some car insurance companies make the process seamless while others try to give you the runaround to get your policy payments.
Shop around, it’s that simple. Look for reviews online, and see who has the best consumer side auto insurance policy claims process? The III has reviews on all car insurers and you can also search Google for info on what car insurance companies offer the most painless claim process.
Where Can I Get a Car Insurance Quote?
There are lots of different places you can find suitable car insurance coverage and it is a good idea to get quotes from a few different companies. To get a quote for free right now in seconds:
