Auto Insurance Claims 101

If you are involved in a car accident, you may need to file an auto insurance claim. This is what you ask of the insurance company to cover costs that arise as a result from the accident. Filing auto insurance claims requires great details and documentation so it’s important to get the facts right the first time. Expenses that can be considered on auto insurance claims include:

• Medical expenses- this includes costs from the ambulance, emergency room, hospital, doctor visits, medicine, and medical equipment.
• Any loss of income- you’ll have to provide verification from your employer for the insurance adjuster if you had to miss work due to injury.
• Auto repairs and rental- if you had to put your vehicle in the shop for repairs as well as the rental.
• Towing and rental car services- if your coverage didn’t have towing or rental services included you can use those costs as well on your claim
• Your deductible- even if you get coverage from your auto insurance to cover most or all of the above, you still have to meet your deductible before insurance will pay the rest.
• Money damages- auto insurance claims can provide compensation to you for your pain and suffering as well.

Types of Auto Insurance Claims

Upon applying for payment from your insurance company, there are three main types of auto insurance claims that can be made. Which type of claim you apply for depends on what expenses you are looking to cover with your claim. These categories are:

• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Liability

In the event of a collision, the insured driver might apply for a collision claim. This would cover the costs to repair or even replace the vehicle that was in the collision excluding the deductible. Regardless of whether or not you are at fault, you still receive payment with this type of claim.

Auto insurance claims can cover various types of damage to the insured’s vehicle apart from a collision or car accident. In this case, you would file for a comprehensive claim. This type of auto insurance claim will cover costs from instances that can occur with your vehicle such as:

• Water damage
• Fire damage
• Flood or Storm damages
• Vandalism

Comprehensive auto insurance claims can even cover the cost to replace your vehicle if it was stolen, excluding the deductible.

Last but not least is liability claims. This covers auto repair and medical costs for the other driver and passengers that are involved in the accident aside from the insured driver. If you are at fault for the accident and file a liability claim, your medical expenses and repairs to your vehicle will not be covered.

Auto insurance claims are not always paid out to the fullest of what you deserve. For this reason you will more than likely have to negotiate with the adjuster. They are not willing to pay a penny more than necessary so they will start low. If you feel you are not being compensated for the settlement you deserve, you should hire an attorney. An attorney who specializes with auto insurance claims can assist you to determine how much is sufficient to request for your settlement.

In most cases, auto insurance claims are closed with a fair settlement without having to file a lawsuit or go to the Department of Insurance. It is important that you don’t rush into filing an auto insurance claim just to accept quick cash. You have a year or longer to get your claim settled or file a lawsuit; so take your time and take care with your claim to ensure you receive a fair settlement.