Whether you’ve recently purchased your first ride or can call yourself an experienced owner, there are plenty of responsibilities that come with owning and operating a vehicle. When things go awry, an incident can become overwhelming very quickly. It’s important to take immediate action following an accident or any other instance of vehicle property damage to ensure you can get as much financial protection as possible.
Filing a claim doesn’t have to be a stressful ordeal, but there are certain guidelines to keep in mind that will improve your chances of success. This article will provide the most important information to keep in mind, no matter the circumstances.
When to file a claim
The first step in the claims process is to ensure that you need to act in the first place. File an auto claim when:
- You have been injured in an auto accident
- Your vehicle has been damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced
However, you should not file a claim when the expected cost for damages is less than your monthly premium, or when no one else was involved in the accident (neither of these situations require claim payments).
Steps to successfully file your claim
Here is a step-by-step guide to follow once you determine that a claim needs to be filed:
- Call the police: You will need a police report number for a claim to be processed. You can acquire this by calling the police on the scene or visiting your local department office after the fact.
- Alert your insurance company: Use the appropriate claims number for your insurance type — if your provider offers insurance from multiple sources, visit their website to find the correct contact information. Provide them with all the important information about the accident (who was involved, who was driving, the location and time of the accident, and the other driver’s insurance information). Keep the claim number that they give you.
- Document the accident: If you can, take pictures at the scene — this will be helpful as you work with the adjuster your insurance company will assign to your case.
- Find a solution: The adjuster will have your vehicle inspected at a registered auto repair shop and assess the extent of damages. Once they have taken everything into consideration, they will provide an estimate of damage costs.
- Accept your payment: Your insurance company will then review the repair estimate and draw up a final release according to how much they determine they need to cover.
Benefit from an easy & efficient claims process
The team at Superior Insurance and Auto Tags is experienced in all vehicle-related matters — and we’re ready to assist during times of crisis. We ensure that each time one of our customers needs to file a claim, they are connected with the resources they need to give them the best possible chance of a hassle-free outcome. Our agents are always ready to help in other ways, as well — give us a call today to learn more about all of our service offerings or fill out the contact form on our website to get started on securing quality home, auto, commercial, and life insurance.