How Car Accident Claims Work
When a person takes out a car insurance policy, it is important that they be sure everything is covered in case of an accident. Things such as how much is each person injured insured for, what if it’s the result of personal negligence, what if it’s the other person’s fault, who pays any legal fees, and other such questions should be fully explained at the time of purchasing the insurance. Car accident claims are scary, especially if they are put in by another party. For that reason, it is important that the insured knows exactly
what steps to follow should such an event occur.
An automobile insurance policy is a contract between the insured and the insurance company. There are terms, conditions and exclusions that need to be fully understood at the time of purchase. Knowing the meaning of the words in the policy, before any accident occurs, are extremely important especially with what is known as the definitions.
Definitions on a policy will include such things as the premium, who is insured, who is covered in case of an accident, and damages. Damages are especially important, as they will specify exactly what will be paid in case of a loss and would include liability for property and injuries. Having sufficient coverage will protect one’s property and assets in case of such a thing occurring.
If a person is in a car wreck it is vital that the other person’s name, address, license number and the name of their insurance company be obtained immediately. It is always a good idea to carry a throw away camera in the car and take pictures. If too injured to do so an attempt should be made to have someone else perform these tasks. It does not take long, after such an occurence, to have things seem different than they really were.
One’s insurance company should be notified as soon as possible and, if there aren’t police on the scene, a police report should be filed as soon as possible. When the insurance company is notified they will put the wheels into motion to get all the facts, contact the other person’s insurance company and make sure their client is protected. If it eventually involves some kind of a law suit the majority of policies furnish legal assistance.
The process to be followed, in case of a claim, is clearly stated on the insurance papers and it is important that this be understood by the insured. There is a general pattern that all insurance companies follow when a claim is made. An insurance company representative, or adjuster, is assigned the case and he or she reviews the policy and determines any limitations or omissions that are included as well as determining if the policy applies to the situation.
It is their duty to determine who is at fault for the accident and will include reviewing reports, conducting interviews and obtaining statements from any witnesses. Should the insured be found at fault a determination will be made as to how much money will be paid out to settle the claim. A great deal of what is paid will depend on how the policy is written. For that reason, again, it is extremely important that a person be fully aware of how their insurance policy is written.
There are times when a policy does not cover all of the damages claimed in an accident. This has been found to be true in states where there is an insurance liability law requiring a very small amount of coverage. The insurance company is only responsible for the amount written on the policy and, if someone has permanent injuries or excessive expenses, it falls on the policyholder for additional costs. Sometimes this leads to a court case and excessive legal expenses. Having sufficient insurance coverage will give a car owner peace of mind should such a car accident claims occur.