Claiming Auto Insurance: A Step-By-Step Guide

Filing an auto insurance claim is a relatively straightforward process, but it's important to act quickly and provide as much information as possible. The first step is to ensure the safety of yourself and anyone else involved in the incident, and then, if necessary, call the police to report the accident and request emergency services. After this, you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible, providing them with detailed information about the incident, including any documentation and photographs. The insurance company will then assign an adjuster to your claim, who will inspect the damage and provide an estimate of the repair costs.

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible

Contacting your insurance company as soon as possible after a car accident is important for several reasons. Firstly, your insurance policy likely requires it. Most policies have language that mandates you to promptly report an accident, and you are contractually obligated to notify and cooperate with your insurance company, especially if you intend to make a claim. Failure to do so in a timely manner could result in your insurer denying coverage.

Secondly, if you live in a no-fault state, you must first bring a claim for benefits under your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage before you can bring a claim against the other driver. PIP will cover medical bills, lost wages, and replacement household services, and you will need to notify your insurance carrier to make a claim for these benefits.

Thirdly, there could be a dispute over who was at fault for the accident. Even if you believe the other driver was to blame, they may think the same about you, and you will need your insurance company to conduct a timely investigation. Your insurance company can help investigate the accident, uncover important evidence, and negotiate a favourable settlement. If you are injured or unwell, you will appreciate having this support.

Additionally, you may need to bring a claim for other benefits under your policy, such as uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage if the other driver doesn't have insurance or enough insurance to cover your losses. You may also want to use collision coverage to get your car repaired or replaced, towing insurance to cover towing costs, and medical expense coverage to pay for any medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident. To access these coverages, you must notify your insurance company promptly.

Finally, the other driver may claim that you are at fault and pursue a claim against you. Your insurance company is required to provide you with a free defence if this happens, but only if you have notified them of the accident.

File a police report

Filing a police report is not always necessary when making an auto insurance claim, but it is beneficial. A police report can speed up the claims process and help prove the validity of your account of the accident. It is a credible, objective piece of evidence that can strengthen your claim and help establish fault. Without it, you may struggle to compile a convincing claim unless you can gather sufficient evidence from other sources.

If the accident occurs on private property, such as a parking lot, the police may be reluctant to respond unless there is significant damage or injury. In many jurisdictions, police won't issue a report for accidents that occur on private property. However, if there is major damage or injury, or if the other driver flees the scene, it is important to file a police report.

If the police do not come to the scene, you can still file a report yourself by going to the nearest police station and providing as much evidence as possible, including photos, videos, and information about the date, time, and location of the accident. You should also gather information about the other people involved in the accident, including their names, contact information, and insurance details.

• Contact the police: If you are involved in an auto accident, it is recommended to contact the police while you are still at the scene. They will be able to guide you on the next steps and may send an officer to the scene to file a report.
• Gather evidence: Take photos or videos of the accident scene, including damage to vehicles, license plates, skid marks, and any other relevant details. Get the contact and insurance information of the other driver(s) involved, as well as any witnesses. Note the environmental factors, such as the weather, time of day, and lighting.
• Document the accident details: Write down a detailed description of how the accident occurred, including the date, time, location, and any other relevant information. If there are security cameras or traffic cameras nearby, make a note of them as they may have captured the accident.
• Seek medical attention: If you or anyone else is injured, seek medical attention immediately. Keep good records of any medical expenses and follow your doctor's treatment plan. This will be important if you need to file a personal injury claim.
• File the report: Go to your local police station and provide them with all the information and evidence you have gathered. They will guide you through the process of filing the report.
• Contact your insurance company: After filing the police report, notify your insurance company promptly. They will guide you on the next steps in the claims process and may request a copy of the police report.

Wait for an adjuster

Once you've filed your claim, the insurance company will review the material and assign you a claims adjuster, or claims specialist. The adjuster will determine the value of the damage and the appropriate compensation based on your policy. They will manage your case on behalf of the insurance company and take the necessary steps to settle your claim.

Claims adjusters may ask to meet in person or see the damaged vehicle. They may even specify the repair shop you must use to get your car fixed. Ask the claims adjuster about your policy regarding vehicle repairs or bodily injury claims and medical expenses. Don't hesitate to reach out to your claims adjuster with any questions about your car insurance claim.

You might wonder when to file your car insurance claim or how long you have from the date of the accident to file the claim. This varies by insurance provider and state, so confirm with your provider as soon as possible to avoid missing any statute-of-limitations deadlines.

You can expect to communicate with your adjuster frequently, and the investigation can last a few weeks or months, depending on the severity of the car accident. Be ready to provide copies of the police report, photos of the damage, and insurance information for all parties involved, as well as any other information requested by your adjuster.

If you're at fault, an insurance adjuster will investigate the claim to determine the amount to be paid for injuries and property damage to the other driver, as well as any injuries or vehicle damage you suffered (if you file a medical payments/personal injury protection or collision insurance claim).

If you aren't at fault, the same steps apply, but you may contact the other driver's insurer to file a third-party liability claim for your injuries and vehicle damage instead.

Some states require the insurer to provide a written explanation if the claim is taking longer than 30 days. Occasionally, claims are delayed, but most state laws require insurance companies to inform you of the claim's status. Check your state's laws for specific guidelines.

Get a report from the insurance adjuster

After you provide the incident details to your insurance company, the next step is a vehicle inspection, if needed. An insurance claims adjuster will then evaluate your car's damage and determine whether it can be repaired.

The insurance adjuster will provide an estimate for repair costs and may give you a list of nearby auto body shops. If you have an auto body or repair shop you prefer to use, the insurance company may be able to honour that request. The adjuster will determine the value of the damage and the appropriate compensation based on your policy. They will manage your case on behalf of the insurance company and take the necessary steps to settle your claim.

The adjuster's report will be a detailed breakdown of the expected cost to repair your damages. The property and casualty insurance industry primarily uses software called Xactware to format these estimates. The exact program is called Xactimate. Xactware conducts ongoing research on fair market pricing for both materials and labour and adjusts its city or region-specific price lists monthly.

The claim summary is sectioned off into separate spreadsheets, generally one for each area of the car that has been damaged. All of these areas are classified as a dwelling. The adjuster will walk around the car, noting any damages before moving on to the next area. They refer to the sides of the car as "elevations". This does not mean the first or second story, but rather the side of the car. All the repairs on one side are included in the spreadsheet for that elevation. You can take your claim summary and walk around your car, one elevation at a time, in the order that it is listed, and see the repairs the adjuster included in your claim.

Another section on the claim summary may be listed as "other structure" or "detached structure". Any non-attached parts of the car, such as a detachable roof, are listed in their own spreadsheet section. They are usually labelled "Other Structures" or something more specific.

The final section on a claim summary is labelled "contents". Personal items inside the car that have been damaged are labelled as "Contents" and often get their own spreadsheet section. Base service charges and dumpster fees are sometimes listed at the end of the claim. These are incorporated if there are small repairs, like one or two window screens or a very small patch, that would be hard to get someone out to take care of with the standard pricing. Think of this section as trip charges that are incurred by some repair companies. Not all insurance companies include these in their claim summaries.

All of these separate spreadsheets are totalled in the Summary located at the end, or sometimes on the first page of the loss statement. Some insurance companies use a version of Xactimate that creates separate Summaries for the Dwelling (the main car), the Other Structures, the Contents and, in some cases, Loss of Use. If there are code upgrades, there could be a separate summary for just the code upgrades. They will often not pay for code upgrades upfront and will allow the contractor to bill for those at the end "if incurred". Other versions of Xactimate will group all of these into one Summary page. Each insurance company tweaks the software to how they like it, so they are slightly different based on which version of Xactimate your insurance company is using.

Understand the timing of your claim

Understanding the right time to file an auto insurance claim is crucial. The first step is to ensure your safety and that of those around you. If you've been in an accident, call the police. They can help ensure safety and request emergency services if needed. In some states, calling the police after an accident is mandatory, so be aware of the law in your area. The police report will also serve as a record of what happened and help your insurance company get accurate information.

After ensuring safety and gathering information, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Report the incident and provide them with all the details. This includes information about the other driver, such as their name, contact information, insurance details, vehicle information, and license plate number. Also, obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses. Taking photos or videos of the accident scene and the vehicles involved can be very helpful.

The timing of your claim is essential, as it can impact the outcome and the speed of the process. Most insurance companies strive to resolve claims promptly, typically within 30 days. However, the time it takes to settle a claim depends on various factors, including the severity of the accident, the number of vehicles involved, and the extent of injuries. Claims involving multiple vehicles, complex situations, or disputes over responsibility may take longer to process.

It's important to be proactive and stay in regular communication with your insurance company and the adjuster handling your claim. Keep a log of all conversations, respond promptly to requests, and provide any necessary documentation to keep the process moving forward.

Additionally, be mindful of the statute of limitations for filing a claim, which varies by state but is typically between two and four years from the date of the incident.

Frequently asked questions