Whether or not you simply acquired right into a automotive accident and must file a car insurance claim otherwise you merely wish to perceive the auto insurance coverage declare course of, we’ve acquired you lined. Let’s stroll by the fundamental steps of the automotive insurance coverage claims course of, the timeline from declare to cost, and all the things in between. That means, if it’s good to make a automotive insurance coverage declare, you’ll know simply what to do.
Key Takeaways
- After an accident, guarantee everybody’s protected, collect data (together with time of accident, events concerned, and photos of harm and the scene), and name the police earlier than submitting your declare.
- You must file an insurance coverage declare no matter who’s at fault.
- After your declare is filed, it will likely be reviewed so fault may be decided. Automobile damages and restore prices will probably be assessed, and your insurance coverage firm will problem cost.
What Are Automobile Insurance coverage Claims?
An insurance coverage declare for a automotive accident is whenever you ask an insurance coverage firm to cowl the prices of any damages or medical bills after a car accident. The method for submitting a declare could fluctuate, based mostly on the place you reside and the kind of insurance coverage you have got, however all the required steps ought to be comparable for essentially the most half.
Who Ought to File the Declare?
Automobile insurance coverage claims are usually filed by the driving force who’s at fault—but it surely’s a good suggestion to file a declare along with your insurance coverage firm no matter who precipitated the accident. Based mostly on the proof offered, your insurance coverage firm will decide who’s at fault. Submitting a declare even whenever you’re not at fault may function precautionary measure, in case the opposite driver is uninsured or if their insurance coverage is invalid.
In case your accident happens in a state that requires no-fault insurance, it’s your duty to file a declare with your personal insurance coverage firm to cowl private medical bills. Each drivers concerned within the accident should make particular person claims no matter who’s at fault. The driving force who’s at fault can nonetheless use their insurance coverage to cowl damages to the automotive they hit.
Steps to Make a Declare for a Automobile Accident
If you happen to’ve been in a automotive accident, listed here are the steps to comply with straight away to get from accident to a filed insurance coverage declare.
1. Guarantee Security
Take a second to make it possible for everyone seems to be okay. You or your passengers is perhaps in a state of shock and should not know how you can act at first. Make sure that nobody is significantly injured earlier than you begin making ready for the claims course of.
2. Collect Data
It’s essential to write down down as many particulars in regards to the accident as you possibly can, from the time it occurred to your recollection of the order of occasions. Trade your identify and insurance coverage data with the opposite driver and decide when and the place the accident came about. Make an preliminary evaluation of how extreme the accident is, so you possibly can describe it to your insurance coverage firm. If you happen to can, take a couple of photos of the accident and the scene so as to add to and make clear your case.
3. Name the Police
Notify the police in the event that they haven’t already been referred to as with the intention to file a police report. Your insurance coverage will doubtless want a police report when evaluating your declare.
4. File a Declare
As soon as everyone seems to be protected, data has been gathered and exchanged, and also you’ve referred to as the police, you’re able to file your automotive accident insurance coverage declare.
Submitting Made Straightforward: Step-by-Step
To file your declare easily, have these particulars prepared:
- Your policy number (out of your card or on-line account)
- The date, time, and placement of the accident
- Names, insurance coverage information, and phone for others concerned
- Images of auto injury and the accident scene
- A duplicate of the police report (if accessible)
You’ll be able to file your declare:
What Occurs After You File a Automobile Insurance coverage Declare?
After you file your automotive insurance coverage declare, a claims handler will start reviewing your case. This a part of the automotive insurance coverage claims course of features a detailed investigation, fault willpower, and injury evaluation, all of which assist decide your payout. Study extra about every ingredient of your auto insurance coverage declare course of:
Investigation and Fault Willpower
After you submit your declare, the investigation and fault willpower will embody the next:
- A claims handler will contact you inside a couple of days to gather any further data wanted and supply a declare quantity.
- They’ll evaluate your report, pictures of the accident and scene, and the police report (if accessible).
- They might communicate with different drivers, witnesses, or restore professionals.
- Your car could also be inspected instantly or by a third-party supplier.
- The handler will decide who’s at fault based mostly on the proof offered.
Harm Evaluation and Protection Evaluation
As soon as the investigation is full, your insurance coverage firm will:
- Evaluation your coverage protection to calculate what’s lined.
- Present or approve a restore estimate on your car.
Declare Settlement and Fee
As soon as the investigation, fault willpower, injury evaluation, and protection evaluate are full, your insurance coverage firm will transfer ahead with settling your declare. Right here’s what you possibly can anticipate:
- Fee will probably be issued to cowl damages, minus any deductible.
- If one other driver is concerned, each insurance coverage corporations will coordinate to find out monetary duty.
- As soon as cost is issued and all issues are resolved, your declare will probably be closed.
Declare Processing Timing & Steps: From Submitting to Fee
The declare course of can usually take a couple of weeks, although it might take longer relying on the time wanted to assemble particulars, decide fault, and calculate the payout quantity. Right here’s a fast overview of the declare course of and timing:
| Step | What Occurs? | Estimated Time |
| 1. File Your Declare | Begin your declare on-line, by the app, or by calling our 24/7 claims line. | Instantly – throughout the similar day |
| 2. Work with an Adjuster | An adjuster contacts you to evaluate the incident, examine injury, and collect needed particulars. | Inside a couple of days after submitting |
| 3. Adjuster Critiques Protection to Decide Payout | The adjuster evaluates your coverage, determines fault, and calculates the payout quantity. | A couple of days to a few weeks |
| 4. Obtain Your Fee | After the declare is finalized, your cost is processed—minus any deductible. | Inside a couple of days after settlement |
A Good Coverage Makes the Automobile Insurance coverage Declare Course of Easy
Having insurance coverage coverage will make it simpler to undergo the automotive insurance coverage declare course of. At The Common, we imagine that everybody deserves high quality protection and top-notch customer support. Get a quote in beneath two minutes, and study extra about car insurance from our blog.
Why You Can Belief The Common’s Declare Course of
The Common has a historical past and monitor report you possibly can belief:
- A rated by AM Finest for monetary stability
- In enterprise for over 60 years
- 4.7 out of 5 star score from over 120,000 actual buyer opinions on TrustPilot
Listed here are a couple of buyer opinions about The Common’s Claims Course of:
- “All the time useful, had a declare with zero issues”
- “The Common has stood by me in a earlier accident the place the opposite celebration had no insurance coverage; and with the Common’s consultant, I used to be in a position to get by the declare course of understanding that I used to be not alone.”
- “Been with the Common for YEARS. All the time have superior customer support, greatest costs they usually have made all the things so easy to make use of, from submitting a declare to answering any questions I’ve had concerning my coverage. “
Continuously Requested Questions About Automobile Insurance coverage Claims
How lengthy does a automotive insurance coverage declare take?
The time it takes to resolve a automotive insurance coverage declare will depend on the complexity of the accident. The method can take wherever from a couple of weeks to a couple months. Easy claims could also be resolved shortly, whereas extra concerned claims—reminiscent of these with accidents or total loss—take longer to settle.
How lengthy do I’ve to file a declare?
Claims ought to be filed as quickly because it’s protected to take action. Reporting promptly helps guarantee particulars are correct and avoids delays. Particular deadlines could fluctuate based mostly in your coverage and state necessities.
Do I must file a police report for my declare?
If you happen to’re involved in an accident, you must contact the police and procure a report, particularly when one other driver is concerned. A police report helps confirm what occurred and might help the declare course of.
Will submitting a automotive insurance coverage declare elevate my charges?
Submitting an auto insurance coverage declare could have an effect on your premium, notably in case you’re discovered at fault. Whereas charge adjustments aren’t assured, it’s widespread for insurance rates to adjust based mostly on declare historical past. If the injury is minor and under your deductible, masking the associated fee out of pocket may assist keep away from a possible enhance.
Is it higher to file a declare or pay out of pocket?
In case your restore prices are lower than your deductible, it might be higher to pay out of pocket. This avoids submitting a declare that gained’t end in a payout and helps maintain your claims historical past clear.
How quickly will a claims handler contact me?
A claims handler (a.ok.a. claims adjuster) usually reaches out inside a couple of days of submitting. They may evaluate your data, accumulate further particulars, and information you thru the following steps.
Can I monitor my automotive insurance coverage declare on-line or within the app?
Sure. After submitting your declare, you possibly can log in to your online account or use The General App to view updates, add paperwork, and monitor the standing of your declare.
What occurs if my automotive is asserted a complete loss?
In case your automotive is asserted a total loss, a claims handler will decide its worth earlier than the accident. If you happen to personal the car, cost is usually despatched on to you. If there’s a mortgage or lease, cost could also be despatched to the lienholder.
How do insurance coverage declare payouts work?
After a claims handler opinions your protection and determines fault, your payout is calculated based mostly on restore estimates. If the automotive is repairable, cost is usually made for these repairs. If the car is a total loss, the settlement is predicated on the automotive’s worth earlier than the accident, minus your deductible.
Ought to I file a declare if I’m not at fault?
Sure, you must nonetheless file a declare. A claims handler will collect data and decide fault as a part of the investigation. Submitting helps make sure the incident is documented and presents safety if the opposite driver is uninsured or doesn’t report the accident. File a claim online, over the phone (1-800-280-1466), or through The General App.
Can I file a third-party declare if I’m not insured by The Common?
Sure. If you happen to had been concerned in an accident with somebody insured by The Common, you possibly can file a third-party claim on-line even in case you’re not a policyholder.
Put The Common to Work for You
For over 60 years, The Common has offered reliable automotive insurance coverage and a declare course of designed to maintain issues quick, clear, and stress-free. You’ll be able to file and handle your declare anytime—online, by The General App, or by phone 24/7. With a 4.7 out of 5-star score on Trustpilot from tens of 1000’s of shoppers, drivers belief The Common to ship fast service and dependable help when it issues most.
