Submitting a car insurance claim can be a very stressful experience. You’ve probably just been in an accident, which is stressful enough, and now you are worrying about getting everything right so that your claim is approved and you can get back to your normal life. While nothing can make the stress of a claim disappear entirely, insurance companies, especially those offering cheap auto insurance, have made this a much smoother and easier process than it used to be.
Now, the very first thing you need to do after an accident is to make sure that you and anyone else involved receives medical attention, if necessary. The adrenaline is flowing, but you need to take stock of your body, take some deep breaths, and make sure the car is the only thing damaged. If that’s the case, then take another moment to be thankful for everyone’s good health. If there is a medical need, get that taken care of immediately, and then turn to the next step.
* Write down the make, model, and license plate of every car that stops at the scene of an accident, whether they were actually involved in the incidence or not. Those who were not in the accident may be important witnesses that you will need later.
* Write down the insurance, contact and license information for each driver involved in the incident. Make sure you have their name, address, phone number, and all of the information listed on their insurance card. Especially important is the company name, policy number, and company phone number.
* If there are witnesses, get their contact information as well, and a brief description of what they say. They may each have a different view, so taking notes about each one’s account will help to build a full account of the accident later.
* You need to also write out your own account of what happened. Put down the date, approximate time, and describe the location as best you can. Include such details as your lane position, whether there was construction, bad weather, or other problems on the road, and so on. Try to list all of the events leading up to the accident as completely as possible, as well as describing the accident itself and what occurred afterward.
* It is helpful to have photographs of the vehicles and the scene. You can use a cell phone camera for this, or, if you don’t have one, keep a disposable camera in your car. Take pictures of anything that might be relevant; if you’re not sure, go ahead and get a picture.
* Call your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. They have been through the process of submitting a car insurance claim hundreds or thousands of times before. They will have a set list of questions for you to answer. Just take your time and answer as clearly, completely, and honestly as possible.
* If there are police officers at the scene, they will also have a list of questions for you, and will fill out an incident report, either at the scene or shortly thereafter. You should get a copy of this report, and make sure a copy is sent to your insurance company.
After the accident, it will probably take some weeks before the claim is fully settled. During this time, it is important to check in with your insurance company, to make sure they have all the information they need and that the process is proceeding normally. If they contact you, reply as soon as you can, so that the process isn’t delayed. Finally, once the claim is completely settled, talk to your agent about any changes to your insurance.
An accident can be a terrible event, but you can make the aftermath easier to handle if you just remember to stay calm, be thorough, and follow up. Do these things and soon you’ll be back on the road and the claim will be just a memory.
