What steps should I follow
in filing an automobile
insurance claim
differences between the filing a property damage claim versus a bodily injury
claim, the basic procedure is the same.
Generally, when making a claim for vehicle damage the following procedure
should be followed:
(1) You make a claim;
(2) The adjuster looks at the damage and estimates the cost of repair;
(3) The insurance company pays you that amount; and
(4) You use the money to have the repairs made.
Before an insurance carrier will pay claims, all claims require some sort of
proof of damage or injury. In the case of auto claims, five elements of proof
are available:
(1) The statements you make to the insurance companies;
(2) The statements the other party makes to the insurance companies;
(3) The police report;
(4) Any witness statements; and
(5) The actual physical damage at the scene of the accident.
In making your claim, you need to make sure that all of this evidence is
available to your insurance company, and in as accurate a manner as possible.
Thus, these are the steps you should take if you are in a car accident (a similar
process can be followed for other claims, leaving out unnecessary steps):
