How to Handle Your Car Accident Insurance Claim

Accidents can happen at any time, any place so it is always best to be prepared. Motor vehicle accidents in particular, have a high frequency rate so having insurance would not just be an advantage but a requirement. In fact, according to the Motor Vehicle Code of California, from the moment any person buys a car, a motor vehicle physical damage insurance policy is required to be purchased from the same dealer.

But that kind of insurance policy isn’t enough to allow you to legally drive on the streets of California, liability insurance must also be purchased or the driver must deposit a bond with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

This type of insurance is needed especially if you get stopped in traffic by a police officer, not having any evidence of liability insurance or a bond would result to fines being imposed ranging from several hundreds of dollars to an amount that exceeds $1,000.

Auto Accidents Without Insurance Coverage

Being in an accident without any proof of insurance is worse, aside from paying a fine, you will lose your driver's license for one year. Also, if you’re the cause the accident and you do not have liability insurance or a bond, you may have to pay the injured person yourself and these costs may be substantial.

Dealing with an Insurance Claim

While car insurance can certainly give drivers peace of mind and security, it can be quite complicated once you actually get into a car accident. There are certain do’s and don’t’s in any insurance transaction, so in order to fully maximize your insurance, here are essential must do’s and for car insurance claims:

1. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible when you get involved in a car accident or get injured because of one.
2. After the accident, if you’re able, make sure you take pictures of the scene, get the contact information of the people involved and take note of the details of the accident such as the weather condition or other factors such as traffic lights, etc.
3. See a doctor after an accident, he will be able to treat your wounds and diagnose further necessary treatment and medical attention. This will be the basis of your claim.
4. Check your insurance policy especially the terms under “Coverage” and “Exclusion” in order to determine if the injury you incurred as a result of the accident is covered under your policy.
5. Take note of all conversations with your insurance company, the date, the agreements, and make sure that you get the names, phone numbers, and job titles of people you speak with, as well as their supervisor's.
6. Make sure that you keep all the records related to your injury and insurance claim until the final settlement with your insurance company.
7. Be honest with your insurance company. Concealment of material facts, no matter how insignificant or potentially embarrassing you think it is, can invalidate your policy so always make sure you give your insurance company truthful information.
8. Know the difference between replacement coverage and depreciated or actual cash value. Don't settle a personal property loss for actual cash value when your policy provides for replacement.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you don't feel you're getting fair compensation from an insurance company, either with regards to medical expenses, auto damage or anything else to which you think you're entitled, talk to an attorney about your claim. Often times just the fact that you've talked to an attorney can be enough to let the insurance company know you're serious about your claim.