Tips for filing a car insurance claim: Being involved in a car accident can be very stressful and leave you asking many questions. The most important one is probably about your insurance and what you’ll have to pay out of pocket. There are a few things you should know and do before you file a claim with your car insurance company.
1. Get to know your car insurance policy. Many people don’t know much about their car insurance or how much or what is covered. If you want to be dealt with fairly when making a claim, it is best to know you know the ins and outs of the policy you have. You should know exactly how much you are covered and what is covered.
2. Get to know your rights. Every state regulates their insurance companies to protect drivers from being taken advantage of. Going online or doing research to learn about the rights you have can protect you while filing your claim to know what is allowed and what isn’t.
3. Find out the value of your car before the accident took place. You will need to find out what the ACV (actual cash value) of your car is before you got into the accident. There are many factors involved in this process. It is always good to do your own research on this subject because sometimes the company’s value can differ from the real value. If there is a substantial difference in value don’t be afraid to get the adjuster to take your assessment into view.
4. Decided if you want to get your car back. When you have a serious accident sometimes it is better just to replace the car with a new one. Even if you are promised the car can be fixed to be in “like-new” condition if you try to sell the car down the road you won’t be able to get as much money for it.
If you do get your car repaired it is best to do your own research on where to get the car fixed and not to let the insurance company demand you get it fixed at one of their repair shops. Sometimes the repair shops they use take their precious time and you end up having to pay for a rental car for longer than your insurance company will pay for it. You should always take care of handling your accident claims right away (within 24 hours if possible), so you and your family can put the whole ordeal behind you.