Filing Insurance Claims after an Accident
There are several tips to ensure that an insurance claim is filed properly. Not every accident warrants a claim so it is good to know the basics if an accident should ever occur.
When an accident happens and people are injured the police should be contacted. In addition, there are provincial limits that require the presence of the police. An example would be a $1,000 limit in Ontario.
To ensure that more damage does not occur the car or cars should be moved out of the way of traffic. Then all parties involved can start collecting information for the car insurance companies. That includes accident details, vehicle identification, names of all parties involved in the accident and the badges from the police officers and the emergency technicians. Pictures are also very helpful.
A driver-information exchange form can make the process a lot easier. The police officer or officers on site will have one available and it is a checklist that ensures that all information that in needed is obtained properly. Witnesses are also a part of this process and their info, like names and addresses, must be taken down too.
Both drivers must contact their insurance companies and file a claim. The sooner that the company is contacted the better. The longer that it takes it may become more difficult. Also all information must be disclosed and if not that can lead to more problems.
The next step is to get the cars repaired. Do not get any work done on the car unless the insurance company agrees to pay for the repairs needed to get the car up and running. Repairs have to be checked upon completion and again at home. A receipt must be obtained too so that if it is needed with the insurance claim. Supplemental repairs may also be required if more damage is found so make sure that the insurance company can handle that.
The auto insurance company can also help to start the repairs faster with shops in the area of where the claim will be filed. It makes it an easier process to take a car to a shop that has ties with the insurance company.