Posts Tagged ‘car insurance claim’

Common Car Insurance Claims

Monday, April 30th, 2012

Car insurance claims drive up the total premium cost for everyone insured by a particular provider. Therefore, it’s smart to know the most common risks associated with driving — and do your best to avoid those risks — to keep insurance affordable for everyone. Have you ever filed one of these common car insurance claims?

Fender Benders, Whiplash & Back Injuries — Oh My!

The most common types of car insurance claims involve minor accidents that cause $2,000 of damage to a vehicle’s fenders, bumpers, and doors. With any small collision, the vehicle being impacted suffers a jerking motion that often injures people’s backs and neck. Although “whiplash” is seen as a cash cow for lawyers, it is costing motorists a pretty penny. In the UK, the cost of insurance has been driven up 20 percent by whiplash claims alone!

Broken Windshields & Flying Animals

Sometimes there is little you can do to avoid a car insurance claim. For instance, what if a pebble flies up and cracks your windshield? Or what if a deer suddenly leaps across the road and careens right into you? The best you can do to avoid these unfortunate circumstances is to focus intensely on the task at hand, drive the speed limit, and be aware of your surroundings. You can also buy special “deer whistles” that should deter the animals from running into the road.

Thieves & Vandals

The average cost of a stolen vehicle is just over $6,600, so you can expect your premium to soar if you have to file a theft claim. Therefore, it’s worth investing in the extra security features when you buy a new car. Having these features installed will also lower your car insurance premium. Vandalism often costs under $300 to repair scratched paint or a smashed window, so most drivers just pay for this out-of-pocket, rather than deal with the insurance hike.

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Want a better rate on your car insurance? Avoid premium hikes by getting quotes and switching providers!

 

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Posted in Car Insurance Rates, General Car Insurance |

British Columbia Car Insurance and Collision Claims

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

If you need to make a claim against the collision portion of your British Columbia car insurance policy, do you know what to expect? A serious accident must be reported to police. If the accident is not a serious one (minor damage, no injuries), contact the police on the local non-emergency number to ask whether you need to have an officer come to the scene of the accident. If the police come to the scene, make sure you get the police file number; you will need this information when you report the accident to your insurer.

The next step in the process is to report the claim. Once the insurer is notified about the accident, an adjuster will be assigned to conduct an investigation. This process may involve interviewing all the drivers who were involved in the accident, as well as any independent witnesses. The adjuster may also wish to speak to the passengers in the vehicles involved in the accident. He or she will also review the police report, if one is available.

Your vehicle will be inspected to determine whether it is repairable. If the insurer determines that the damage can be fixed, you can have the work done by the garage of your choice. In the event that the car is a write-off, the insurance company will pay out based on its cash value and the car is disposed of.

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Posted in Canada |

Reporting a Loss Under Your New Jersey Auto Insurance Policy

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

When your car has been damaged or stolen, you must report the loss to your insurance agent or to the auto insurance company directly. You will also need to report the loss to the police if the car has been stolen or vandalized.

The police will also need to be informed if your car was damaged in a hit-and-run accident. Without an official police report, the insurance company may deny the claim. The insurance company may wish to inspect your car before you have it repaired.

You have a duty to protect your car from undergoing any further damage. Failing to do so may mean that the insurance company will refuse to pay for any damage to your vehicle that takes place after the initial incident.

The insurance policy will include certain conditions or duties that you must fulfill after a loss. All of these conditions must be fulfilled in order for the insurance company to pay out on the loss.

Once you report a loss the insurance company will assign an adjuster to your claim. Make sure you answer the adjuster’s questions about the loss truthfully and completely. It’s in your best interests to cooperate with him or her, since failing to do so can also mean the insurance company will deny your claim.

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Posted in New Jersey, USA |

How to Make a Car Insurance Claim

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Although many insurance companies are more than happy to broadcast details of their glowing reputations while trying to sell a policy, the true test of a carriers’ mettle is usually established when the time comes to actually make a claim. Knowing how to file a claim effectively can be the difference between a seamless settlement and months of unnecessary aggravation.

However, there are a series of steps that motorists can follow to help make the claims procedure much easier. Detailed facts about the events surrounding an accident will always make a claim run more smoothly. As well as exchanging details with the other party involved in the accident, drivers are best advised to make sketches or take photographs of the accident as well as making notes about traffic and weather conditions. Gathering as much information as possible will help the insurance carrier to establish which driver may have been at fault.

Although the accumulation of facts is vital to filing a problem-free claim, it is still vital that details are exchanged. Ignoring this responsibility is outside the confines of the law and failure to provide details or documentation can seriously hamper any subsequent claim.

Written details should be kept of all communications with the insurance company so that any discrepancies can be highlighted. It is also advisable to take down the name and extension number of all persons who have spoken to you regarding the claim. It is also important to make sure forms and paperwork are submitted promptly.

Most importantly, it is vital that a driver never accepts responsibility at the scene of an accident. Culpability is best left to the professional talents of the insurance carriers.

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Posted in General Car Insurance |

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