When you get into a motor accident, it is important to understand how to file a claim with your insurance company.
How does it work?
The steps that you take after an accident are just as important as the steps taken before – you must be proactive to have all necessary documents in your car beforehand; notably, your license and insurance. It is helpful to keep a pen and notepad in your glove compartment, or even a working Smartphone with a note taking app to assist with recording information. Having a camera, which is often integrated into Smartphones nowadays, is extremely beneficial to capture the condition of the vehicles.
After an accident, swap information with the others who are involved, including license details, license plate numbers, insurance policy numbers, who was at fault, and the make/model of the vehicles. As we mentioned above, it is helpful to have a working camera to take pictures of the damage as proof for your insurance company. Write or record any other details of the day, especially the date, time, and weather at the time of the accident. Most importantly, take note of any personal injuries or pains sustained in the event. At the time of the accident, it is not easy to predict if these injuries will progress into something worse over time, but noting them is always advantageous.
Get your insurance company involved
Be sure to phone your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. If you do not have this number programmed into your phone, you will be able to find it on your insurance card. Of course, with a working internet connection, the phone number can always be searched online.
After talking to your insurance company about your coverage and what your plan entails, an adjuster will be sent to assess the property damage (if the value is more than the vehicle, oftentimes, the vehicle is considered a “write off”). The damages also include personal harm and costs associated for medical treatment, including but not limited to physiotherapy.
Once the insurance companies have gathered all applicable information from the individuals involved in the accident and have properly assessed it, the case comes to a close.
Unfortunately, this might not be the case for more serious or fatal accidents. Do keep in contact with your insurance company, as they will be able to provide more information to help you in the process.
Need a hand?
Do you have questions about an accident that you were in or the steps taken in the aftermath? Please contact us at 780-777-7779 and we will gladly answer any question that you might have!
Would you like to read more about what we can help you with? Why not check out our blog about if you need new tires!
Sources:
http://www.dmv.org/insurance/tips-for-filing-a-car-insurance-claim.php