If you’ve recently been in accident, or would like to know how to make an accident-related claim on your Car Insurance for future reference, here’s all you need to know.
If you’re a driver, chances are you’ll be involved in a vehicle-related incident in your lifetime, whether it’s your fault or not. And while Car Insurance is something you may be paying for monthly, it’s something you probably hope you’ll never have to use. If you’ve recently been in accident, or would like to know how to make an accident-related claim on your Car Insurance for future reference, here’s all you need to know.
When should I file a claim?
You should contact your Car Insurance provider as soon as any of the following occur:
While on the phone to your insurance company, you will need to provide them with your policy number and full details of the incident. This includes the date and time of the incident, names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s licence and licence plate numbers of all people involved.
What is the procedure for filing a claim?
Call your insurance company and ask about the procedure for filing a claim. You will most likely receive a claims form. This form must be filled in to record all evidence that supports your claim, for example, photographs of the vehicles involved, details of how the incident happened, contact details of the people involved and the case number given to you by the police, if your vehicle was stolen or damaged due to criminal activity.
If your car needs to be repaired, your insurance company will give you a list of approved repair companies you may use. After receiving a quote for the repairs from the company you have chosen, you must inform your insurance company of the amount before having the repairs done. Do not take your car to be fixed before your insurance company approves the quote, as they may reject the price and refuse to pay for it.
If your vehicle has been badly damaged or stolen, an assessor will be sent to interview you and assess the damages. If the assessor feels the vehicle is too badly damaged, it will be “written off”, and your insurance company will pay out an amount equal to your vehicle’s value before it was damaged or stolen.
Knowing what information you need to gather in order to make a claim ensures a smooth and ultimately less stressful Car Insurance claim process. If you have yet to invest in Car Insurance, now is the time to look at quotes and find a policy to suit your needs and budget. If your vehicle is damaged in some way or worse, stolen, the costs of having to cover the repairs or buy a new car could leave you in financial strain.