4 Simple Ways To Expedite Your Car Insurance Claim
Posted on: 26 January 2021
A car accident can happen at any time; if you're ever involved in an accident, you should be able to rely on your auto insurance carrier to pay for your covered expenses. This may include anything from physical damage to your car or property to medical bills and lost wages resulting from your injuries. Even with the right coverage, however, the process of settling an auto insurance claim can often be long and drawn-out. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to expedite the process and avoid delays.
Always File a Police Report
Police reports can be valuable to your insurance company (and insurance adjusters) when processing a claim —especially when it comes to determining fault in an accident. With this in mind, you should always insist on filing a police report after an accident when possible. Even for a seemingly minor accident, you should be able to get an officer to type up a brief report. One exception to this may be if the accident occurs on private property, such as in a grocery store parking lot.
Keep Organized Documentation
After filing a police report, be sure to get the report number from the officer so you can pull a copy of the report once it's written. Then, make sure to keep this report on file, along with any other documentation from the accident. The more documentation you have, the better. This may include witness information, photos of the accident scene, estimates from auto body repair shops, and copies of your medical bills. You'll want to have all this information readily available if your insurance company requests it (which they likely will).
Respond to Requests Promptly
When your insurance adjuster does reach out to you with questions or requests for documentation, be prompt about responding. Keep a close eye on your email inbox and check your phone regularly for communications from your insurance company. Otherwise, your claim could be held up unnecessarily by a lack of response on your part.
Know Your State's Laws
Each state has its own laws and regulations regarding how long insurance companies have to acknowledge a claim and process/decide on a claim, so be aware of your state's specific laws. If your insurance company is taking longer than is legally permissible, don't hesitate to reach out to your adjuster.
Waiting on a car insurance claim to process can be stressful, but as long as you have the right coverage and submit the necessary documentation, you should receive your settlement in due time.
For more information, talk to an auto insurance provider today.
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