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How to File an Insurance Claim
You’ve been in an accident. You know you have insurance, but you’re not sure what steps to take to file a claim. The good news is that you can create a claim quickly. However, don’t rush into the process just yet. Here’s what you need to know and what you need to plan for in this process.
Document What Occurred First
After an accident of any type, contact the police to document what occurred, especially if someone else was involved. Then, take the time to document the details yourself. Gather as much information as possible.
- Take photos of the scene and the surrounding area.
- Get the names and contact information of anyone involved and any witnesses of what occurred.
- Don’t clean up or move anything until you’ve recorded everything and contacted your insurance company (especially for home-related claims). For auto insurance, file a police report and follow the police officer’s directions on the next steps.
- Document what you saw and experienced before the incident and just after. Make sure to record yourself providing this statement. That way, all of the evidence is fresh in your mind.
- Even if you were not hurt, if you’ve been in an accident yourself, head to the ER for a checkup and evaluation. Do that right away to make sure you’re okay.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Your insurance agent will provide you with the steps you need to take. Many of today’s companies have an online process for filing simple claims. Don’t overlook the value of contacting your agent directly. They are there to help you through this process. When you do call them, there are a few specific things you need to keep in mind throughout this process:
- Provide your agent with the facts. Don’t speculate on what happened or why. They will do the investigations to find out what the details are as needed.
- Make sure to document the conversation you have, including who you spoke with and what they told you. That way, you have a record of what occurred and when.
- Ask what you can do to help facilitate the process. Your agent will tell you what your rights are and what your coverage is.
- Make sure that you communicate what all of your losses are in this case. If someone else is responsible for your injuries or the accident, you may wish to reach out to a personal injury attorney to discuss your case, especially if you get any pushback from the insurance company. Most often, this isn’t necessary.
Document Your Losses
After an accident, you typically have the right to seek out repairs for your vehicle or other damaged items from someone that you trust and want to work with to do the job. For example, you have the right to use the mechanic you know and trust. If you do not have anyone that you want to work with, the insurance company will help you to make decisions on where to go.
The first step is often to get a quote. The quote will provide clarity on what the next step is. If this is a car accident, the insurance company will decide if it will repair the car. That’s what happens in most situations. They will document what type of repairs are necessary and how you can get the work done.
If the damage is significant, the insurance company may decide that it’s not worth repairing your car. In this situation, they will pay you what your policy states. If you have actual cash value, the insurance company will pay you the amount your car was worth based on Blue Book value (or another value they assign) at the time of the accident. If you have replacement value, they will pay you enough to replace the car.
Make sure to communicate about all of your losses. You may need a rental car during the repairs. On the other hand, you may need to move into a temporary location while your home is being repaired. Let your agent help you.
Stay in Contact With Your Insurance Company
The process of filing a claim is just that–filling the claim. Moving through the process can take time. Your best bet is to work to stay ahead of the game. Remain in contact with the insurance company and your agent throughout the process. That’s going to help ensure the process goes well.
Filing a claim is one of the rights you have when purchasing insurance coverage. Make sure you know what your policy offers. And, if it doesn’t meet all of your needs, it may be time to look at new coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Insurance
Home insurance is one of the best investments you can make. It may also be a required type of coverage from your mortgage lender. It’s also really confusing, especially if this is your first home. Consider these common questions that you may have about your policy.
What Does Home Insurance Cover?
Home insurance is designed to cover accidental and unavoidable losses. This does not include any type of wear and tear on the home. It may provide coverage for things like fires, lightning strikes, and internal water damage, like from a burst pipe. It will not cover repairs that are due to the home getting older or systems wearing down. Most policies also do not cover floods that come into your home from the exterior, such as from a storm.
Does Home Insurance Cover Liability Risks?
Another type of coverage you likely have is liability insurance. This component of home insurance helps to cover your financial losses if someone files a claim against you. For example, if your dog bites the neighbor and the neighbor needs surgery, the policy may cover those costs, allowing you to not have to worry about those claims.
Liability insurance may cover claims against you otherwise, too. That includes losses related to your trees falling on someone else’s property or a person who falls in your home while visiting. Make sure you know exactly what is covered before you invest in this type of policy. Many times, ample liability insurance is critical to protecting your rights.
What Is Contents Insurance?
Contents insurance is a component of most home insurance policies. It helps to cover the value of your belongings within your home. That includes everything from your television and laptop to the home’s furnishings. The key here is that you need enough content insurance to meet your expectations. If your home suffered a fire, for example, what would it cost to replace all of your home’s belongings? You want to be sure your coverage is enough to do that. You may need to document your home’s valuables and possessions so that you can ensure your contents coverage is enough.
Will Home Insurance Cover Flooding?
Flooding is one of the most common problems in homes, but home insurance doesn’t always cover it. If you live in a flood-risk zone, speak to your agent about this. They may allow you to add a secondary level of flood insurance that helps to minimize your risks related to flooding in your home.
Will Home Insurance Cover Your Expensive Baseball Collection?
If you have any valuables in your home that are worth more than $1,000, make sure to contact your insurance company about them. That way, you can be sure your home insurance policy has enough contents coverage to minimize the risks of these costs. It’s always a good idea to have a special add-on policy for anything that is of significant value. That helps to minimize the risk of claims that go unfunded later.