How to Make a Car Insurance Claim

When you have an accident and it is not your fault, you will most likely file a claim with the erring party's insurance company. There are a number of important things you should know about the procedure that a company will follow and how you should respond to reach a suitable settlement.

The claims adjuster is the official link between you and the other driver's insurance company. The adjuster's job is threefold:Warnings

Tips

• Determine what kind of person you are, the extent of your injury, your desire to get well, and the extent of damage to your vehicle. Estimate the amount of money that the insurance company will probably have to pay to come to a satisfactory settlement. This estimate is the reserve set aside by the insurance company to meet its potential future obligations. Settle the claim as quickly as possible by delivering a check to you.

• In order to do their job, adjusters will ask you a number of questions about how the accident happened, who was at fault, what your medical condition is, and things of that nature. They will also ask a number of questions about you such as your background, your job, your income, and your medical history. In order to settle an injury claim they will ask for copies of a doctor's report and medical bills.

• It is alright to speak with an adjuster but you should be very cautious about what you say. Don't answer questions about your medical background. That is for doctors to discuss, not laymen. It is generally best to be pleasant but uninformative. Remember, the adjuster is working for the other driver and would like to find evidence that fault lies with you rather than with their insured.

• Once the necessary information has been gathered, the adjuster will estimate the value of the claim. This is simply what the adjuster feels, based on the investigation, your claim is worth. It is certainly not carved in stone! They will try to settle the claim as soon as possible. It is in the interest of the insurance company to close claims as quickly as possible to minimize their expenses.

• Different companies handle claims differently. Some companies will pay your expenses as you go along rather than making you pay all your expenses up front, then working out a settlement. Other companies prefer to work with a single lump-sum payment and release it when you are ready (though they will often try to convince you that you are ready sooner than you think).

• However, no claim is complete until you have signed a release. Contrary to popular belief, mere acceptance of a check does not release the company from any future claims. Some discount insurance companies do include a release from on the back of their checks. If you are not satisfied that your claim is complete, do not endorse the check. Your right to future claim is not ended until you sign a release leaving open the chance that any further expenses incurred as a direct result of the accident will be paid.