Tips For Dealing With Insurance On Collision Repair
So you’ve been in an accident. When it’s your fault, you at least know who to deal with. You call your insurance company, they deal with it, you pay your deductible and get a higher premium. But what about when it’s not your fault? When someone else hits your car, it can be an utterly exhausting experience to deal with the other insurance company. You’re not their customer, they just don’t care about taking care of you. At Five Star Auto Body, we have handled claims from every insurance company possible. We are happy to talk to them on your behalf for your collision repair job on your vehicle. Here are some tips that we’ve learned over the years for dealing with them on all other aspects of the accident. Gather necessary information Get everything written down, including the other driver's address, insurance company name and policy information. Gather statements and contact information from any witnesses. Make sure to take pictures of the accident scene – get your phone out and document everything. You’ll be able to prove your claim when it comes to fighting with the other insurance company. When it’s your word against the other driver’s, anything can happen. Pictures and evidence tell the story. Notify the right people The police will make the call on who is at fault to give out the tickets. The insurer will then make its own determination of who’s at fault, which doesn’t necessarily match law enforcement’s assessment. The insurer is supposed to take into account items such as the police report, driver and witness statements and physical evidence. Even if you didn’t cause the accident, still, report it to your insurance company. They can be helpful with advice and it’s a gesture of good faith to tell them. They don’t want the claim to cross their desk, so they’ll help you deal with the other company if they can. In a perfect world, you should only have to notify the other party's insurer of your damages and injuries, take your car to a body shop, visit a doctor and expect the insurer to pay your bills. We don’t live in a perfect world. Insurance companies may demand that you obtain their authorization before proceeding with vehicle repairs and injury treatments. If the insurance adjuster doesn't authorize a repair before you take it to the auto shop, it can create a problem. At minimum, make certain that the insurance company has accepted liability before going ahead with repairs. Get that authorization in writing. Ask the insurer to email it to you. Remember that an insurance company can't force you to take your vehicle to a specific repair facility. The choice is yours. Know what you deserve Knowing your state's prompt-payment law is beneficial. Every state's unfair claims settlement practices act outlines the time frame in which an insurer must issue you a check for your damages. Read through Missouri’s Improper or Unfair Claims Settlement Practices here. Laws vary widely from state to state, with many simply mandating a "prompt" payment of claims, while others specify a number of days and the interest owed to you if the insurer fails to pay within the specified period. One last factor to keep in mind: Unfair claims settlement practices acts often do not extend the same rights to you if you're making a claim against another driver's insurance as opposed to making a claim under your own insurance policy. Writing a matter-of-fact letter to the at-fault person's insurance company is a smart way to inform it of your expectations and rights. Telling the insurer that you expect it to pay all reasonable costs you incur as a result of the accident, including payment for repairs to or the total-loss value of your vehicle, diminished value of your car, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and rental-car costs will highlight the insurer's responsibilities under public policy. Make sure you keep a record of all correspondence, including dates and the names of customer service reps. Find the Best Collision Repair Shop These tips will help you deal with the insurance company after a collision. For help, and the best collision repair in Arnold, Imperial, and Fenton, Five Star Auto Body is the best choice. Five Star Auto Body Repair is a Certified I-Car Gold Class Facility that has a high level of collision repair training. In Arnold, Imperial, Fenton, and Oakville, they are the best shop close to you, and will repair your vehicle to factory condition with the most advanced techniques and newest training. They also will work with your insurance company for you, to save you the hassle of working with them. If you have any questions, visit www.fivestarautobody.com or come in to 1756 Jeffco Blvd, in Arnold, MO. To set up an appointment, call 636-282-5600 today!Tags: auto body, Auto Collision, Collision Repair
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