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If you have recently been in a car accident, it is important to contact your insurance company to let them know what is going on. However, there are some specific things that you want to do and some things you want to avoid when it comes to filing a claim with your insurance company. Let’s take at what you should and shouldn’t be doing below.
The Dos
Contact your agent as soon after a vehicle accident as you possibly can. This will initial the claim quickly. Make sure to take notes of who you are talking to. These notes should include the person’s name, position, phone number, and their supervisor’s name. It’s best to keep a notebook of all the people you’ve talked to regarding your claim throughout the entire process.
Make sure to read over your insurance policy. While you may think you remember everything in it, it’s best to review it anyway just to be sure. You should pay special attention to the coverage and exclusion sections of your policy agreements. While you are reviewing your auto insurance policy, you should review your other agreements that touch on car insurance. Homeowner’s insurance and some credit cards have umbrella coverage for accident-related funding.
Do be honest with your insurance company about everything that happened. Don’t try to lie about the accident to paint your driving ability in a better light. If the insurance company finds out later and is able to prove that you lied to them, they can deny coverage for your vehicle. It’s best to be open and honest from the start. You don’t need to tell them every single detail, but it’s advised to answer all the questions from your insurance adjuster honestly.
The Do Nots
Don’t ever record or write a written statement with your insurance company. Many insurance representatives are trained to listen to specific details of an insuree’s conversation to see if there are areas where the insurance company can deny coverage.
You are not required by law to have a recorded telephone conversation with your insurance agent, so don’t consent to one. If you have any questions about your behavior that may have voided the insurance coverage, your best bet is to speak to an attorney first. You should get their opinion before revealing your behavior to the insurance company.
Don’t ignore the time limits of your policy. Many policies will have time limitations on how long you have to get a signed proof of loss or take legal action against the insurance company for unsatisfactory settlements. If you let this time frame expire you will give up your legal right to sue the insurance company in the future.
Don’t automatically accept the estimate for repairs or for the vehicle’s value. You should consider doing some research on your own and even look into getting a second independent decision from another auto body repair shop. This will help to ensure the adjuster’s estimate is accurate and not too low.
Don’t sign any waivers or releases without consulting an attorney first. Once you sign on the dotted line, you give up your rights. Let an attorney look over any potential releases or waivers that your insurance company wants you to sign. It’s best to be sure before you sign than deal with the unpleasant consequences afterward.
Car accidents happen, which is why it’s important that you understand what you should be doing when it comes to filing your insurance claim. For more specific details about car accidents be sure to look to contact Gruber Law.
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