Accidents are an unfortunate reality of life and dealing with your insurance company after an accident can be complicated, frustrating, and very stressful. Dealing with the accident is stressful enough, but in order to put in a claim, you will need to contact your insurance company. To help simplify the claims process, here are the top five tips to help you deal with your insurer.
Be honest and transparent
Honesty is key. When speaking to your insurance provider, you need to give them as much information about the accident as possible. This includes visual evidence such as photographs or camera footage, witness details, police reports, medical reports, and repair estimates. Some insurance companies require multiple estimates to ensure you get a fair price for the repairs.
Ensure that the information you provide is truthful and be fully transparent. The truth always comes out. If you misrepresent facts, even if it is unintentional, your claim could be delayed or even rejected. By providing complete and accurate details, you can help speed up the process.Â
Be prepared
Your insurance provider will have various requirements for you. Have all your documents in order. They may require things like your policy number, social security number, police reports, medical reports, witness contact details, statements, and repair estimates. They will also need all the details about the accident, including the date and time it occurred, location, and information relating to how and why the incident happened.
Keep accurate records of everything. This includes any expenses that you incur with medical examinations from accident-related injuries, any immediate expenses like towing costs, and even lost wages. If you are unable to work, you will probably lose income during that period. These records will also come in handy if you need to approach a car accident injury attorney to assist you with your claim.
Be organized and keep all your receipts, no matter how small the amount. A motor vehicle accident can leave you without transport and with high medical and repair bills. If you need to catch a cab or take painkillers after the accident, all those expenses should be added to your claim.
Be patient
According to Forbes, there were 5,930,496 motor vehicle accidents that were reported to the police in 2022. 32% were due to drunk driving, 29% were due to speeding, and a large portion were due to driver distraction. That means that over 16,200 accidents happen in the USA daily. These statistics are alarming, but they illustrate the significant volume of claims that insurance companies have to process. And these are not the only types of claims submitted.
Be patient with your insurance provider. By all means, do regular follow-ups, but remember that the claims process can be lengthy. Your provider may have to deal with delays from third parties, such as a secondary insurance company or the repairs company. If there are delays, it is not necessarily your provider’s fault.Â
Read thoroughly before you sign
First, read them thoroughly. It may be prudent to hire legal representation to protect your interests and ensure you get fair compensation for damages and losses.Â
An attorney would review the documents and be able to advise you on whether or not you are getting a fair deal and what the implications of acceptance would be. They would also be able to pick up on any potential pitfalls that could jeopardize your claim. Your attorney can help you fully understand what you are signing before you add your signature to any document. Once the papers are signed, it is very difficult to get anything changed.
Be mindful of what you say
Most insurance companies record all their calls. This helps them to refer back to conversations during the claims process, and it offers you a bit of reassurance that you have access to a copy of the recordings if you ever need them. When you call your insurer, make sure you stick to the simple facts. Don’t give unnecessary additional information that will complicate the call. Don’t admit guilt if you are not guilty. Be truthful, as it is easier to remember the truth than a misrepresentation of facts.
Also remember that you can end the conversation at any time. If you feel uncomfortable during the call, you can either end the conversation or request a call back for a later convenient time. Everything that is said on the call can be used for or against the claim, so be mindful of everything you say.
Final thoughts
Being in an accident is stressful, but dealing with your insurance company doesn’t have to be. If you follow these top tips, you will be able to make your claim and deal with your insurer confidently. You need to know your rights and be prepared when you make a claim.
By being patient yet firm, honest yet mindful of your words, and carefully reading all documents, your claim should go through smoothly. Remember that you can call your attorney to step in at any time, which would increase your chances of getting a fair settlement and putting the accident in the past.
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