Getting into any type of car accident is an extremely traumatic experience. After the accident, you need to file a claim with your insurance company, which involves providing proof of any damage or injuries that occurred. Dealing with an insurance company is challenging during the best of times. When you are still reeling from an accident, however, it can be extremely overwhelming.
If you have been injured in the accident this makes things even more stressful. Often are minor but sometimes they can be recurring or even show up after the accident. A common occurrence is chest injuries from car accidents. This is due to the position of the driver and passenger and them likelihood that they will make contact with the dashboard in the event of an impact.
To make a claim filing process as easy as possible, try using the tips and information below:
- Don’t delay.
After an accident, the first order of business is to make sure that your injuries are properly treated. The law requires you to take reasonable care to keep your injuries from getting worse. Once you have adequately recovered, however, you need to start gathering together supporting documentation for your claim. Avoid putting off this process. Instead, start right away. Certain types of evidence can disappear over time. For instance, if the accident was caught by a surveillance camera, the footage could get recorded over if you wait too long to request it from the provider. If you need a copy of your police report or a report from the DMV, you should also allow plenty of lead time since these reports are sometimes slow in arriving.
- Go back over your insurance policy.
Carefully read through your insurance policy to see exactly what it covers. Take note of how much you can claim based on both your auto insurance and your health insurance.
- Whenever possible, communicate in writing.
Let your insurance company know that you want to handle all correspondence through email rather than over the phone. Keep copies of all of your email messages. This not only includes messages that you receive but also messages that you send. If any disputes arise in the future, having an accurate record of your communications with the insurance company can be invaluable.
- Store copies of important documents digitally.
Don’t rely on paper copies alone since documents can easily get damaged. Scan any important papers into your computer and store them digitally, as well, so that you always have a copy available, even if the original is lost or ruined.
- Focus on organization.
Keep all of your important paperwork and evidence together in one place. Make sure that you can easily get to it any time you need it. Sort the individual documents by topic. For instance, any information about the damage to your vehicle should be kept separate from documents related to your physical injuries. You definitely don’t want poor organizational skills to cause you to lose a key piece of evidence in your case.
- Don’t lie to your insurer.
Absolute honesty is essential anytime you are dealing with your insurance company. If they find any differences between your story and the evidence, your entire claim may be denied. You could also face legal action if your insurance company believes that you have knowingly lied.
- Keep the information on your insurance policy current.
Even if you have been faithfully paying for your car insurance for years, you may find yourself in a bind if the information on your policy is not up to date. Every so often, check your insurance policy to see if it needs updating. For instance, if you begin using a car for work that was previously used for pleasure, you need to let your insurance company know. Likewise, other changes like adding a new driver or modifying the vehicle should be noted in your policy.