We all know how huge the loss due to car accidents can be. It can run into thousands of dollars in medical expenses and vehicle repairs and even more in complicated cases. So when you get into such an unfortunate happening you should be prepared to face it confidently and make sure that your auto insurance company pays for the losses. Good prudence requires you to be aware of a few things that can ensure that your auto insurance claim will be paid.
Knowing exactly how your auto insurance policy works and things that may affect your payout is the key to maximizing the chances of your claim to be successful. The first and foremost requirement is that you should comply with all the terms and conditions of the insurance company under your policy.
When you are involved in an accident and if the accident is severe, call the police immediately. You should call the emergency response number if anyone flees from the accident spot. You should never admit to being at fault. To make sure that your auto insurance company pays your claim, you should be careful to follow some steps that are greatly helpful in making your claim successful.
The Do’s
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Make note of the details of the accident, the accident location, name of the streets surrounding the spot, position of vehicles involved in the accident, direction of the vehicles, the points of contacts and damages to the vehicles, skid marks along with the details of the accident.
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Exchange the drivers’ information such as names, addresses, phone numbers and the vehicle registration number, model and engine size etc. and their insurance details.
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To support your acclaim you should take down the registration number of all the cars involved and the names of as many witnesses as possible and note their name, phone number and vehicle registration numbers.
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Try to find out if the others involved were impaired or distracted by eating or talking on the phone. Note down the weather conditions that might have contributed to the accident
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Take photographs of the accident scene if you have a camera phone for records.
Call insurance agent and inform him about the accident and the damages and injury. If your vehicle is damaged severely, your insurer will provide you with a rental car provided you have a policy that has this provision. When you vehicle is sent to the auto repair shop, you should pay your deducible and the remaining bill amount will be paid by your insurer. If you fail to pay before you to take delivery of your vehicle, you it would cost you heavily and even end up having your vehicle legally impounded. You should also get the car repaired by a repair shop approved by your auto insurance company.
Make sure that the information you give to your insurance company are factually correct.
The Don’ts
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Take care never to leave your key on the ignition or expose your valuables as these things can invalidate your claim.
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You must also make sure that your car is regularly serviced and the brake lights, indicators and all lights are in working condition. A broken brake light can cause a big difference to your claim.
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Non-disclosure of previous accidents or motoring tickets or convictions can affect your claim too.
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Not wearing seat belt will hamper your insurance payout.