Then what happens when you get into a car accident? Who do you call? Who will fix your car What about getting to work?
There are rarely any injuries reported in car accidents in America. We won’t discuss the injury process here. Also, we will assume you have complete coverage.
An accident can be described as: You are going down the road. You are listening to morning news and are sitting at the red traffic light. Then, suddenly, an impact hits you and pushes you into the intersection ….. What now? You are now in the middle of an auto claims process that could lead to your worst nightmare.
Assuming you are sure that the person who hit you didn’t run away, and that your ability to walk is real, you shouldn’t get out of your vehicle until you feel confident that you can move. It can be quite confusing. Your mind will be jumbled and you won’t remember what just happened. You will hear an explosion and see smoke everywhere if the airbags deploy. Your shoulder will likely be sore from the seat belt. You may also get some scratches from the Airbag impact.
Once you’ve checked that you and all your passengers are safe, you can proceed to 1. Turn on your hazard lights and 2. Contact the police. The police must be called to the scene. Many people will try and negotiate to move the vehicle. Do not be deceived. Many insurance companies require you to call the police as part of your policy. So don’t take chances. You can call them. Call them. Don’t trust what others say. They must be contacted.
Even if you are able to drive away, don’t move your car out of sight. Let the police handle this. You never know when your accident will lead to you being accused. Police and insurance adjusters will be able to locate very useful evidence that can completely discredit you for negligence.
Note the name of the other driver and the insurance company they have. You can call their carrier using your cell phone to confirm that they have a valid policy. You’d be amazed at how many people still have expired insurance cards. Inform the police if the person doesn’t have insurance so that it is noted in the police report.
A police officer will give you an accident report. This is not the police report. This is just information about what happened. This information is not complete. The officer must still report to the station. This is the report that you will need to request later.
Your insurance company is the second place to call after you have called the police. Report the accident. Insurance companies will require that you do so. Failure to notify them could result in a denial of your claim. Now is the time to request a rental car. The insurance company will give you directions and limits for your rental car.
Many people prefer to wait and see what the insurance company of the other party will pay. They don’t want their insurance company to be responsible for any damage caused by someone else. It is understandable, but it is a mistake. You need to file with your own insurance. This is a common error that occurs in the process of filing auto claims. It can lead to you being without coverage.
Most claim adjusters won’t take your call. They may try to transfer your call directly, and sometimes they will ask for a recorded statement. This statement is not recommended. It is possible to give a verbal declaration, but not to be recorded.
The insurance adjuster will ask you for the other person’s insurance information and the police report. Once you have given the statement, they will inform you that they will be sending a medical authorization form. This authorization form is required for visits to the doctor.
An insurance adjuster will locate your vehicle and send an adjuster to estimate it. If the estimate is not satisfactory, the adjuster may have the car town to one of the company’s shops. They will contact you to inform you of the extent of damage and whether you wish to proceed with repairs. Unless the other insurance company pays directly to the shop or your carrier, your deductible will be your responsibility. This can take some time.
Once you have paid all the bills and your car is fixed, your insurance company will take action and pay everything.