Whether or not you simply acquired right into a automotive accident and have to file a automotive insurance coverage declare otherwise you merely wish to perceive the auto insurance coverage declare course of, we’ve acquired you lined. Let’s stroll via the fundamental steps of the automotive insurance coverage claims course of, the timeline from declare to fee, and every little thing in between. That manner, if you have to make a automotive insurance coverage declare, you’ll know simply what to do.
Key Takeaways
- After an accident, guarantee everybody’s secure, collect info (together with time of accident, events concerned, and footage of injury and the scene), and name the police earlier than submitting your declare.
- You need to file an insurance coverage declare no matter who’s at fault.
- After your declare is filed, it is going to be reviewed so fault could be decided. Car damages and restore prices will probably be assessed, and your insurance coverage firm will difficulty fee.
What Are Automobile Insurance coverage Claims?
An insurance coverage declare for a automotive accident is once you ask an insurance coverage firm to cowl the prices of any damages or medical bills after a automotive accident. The method for submitting a declare could differ, based mostly on the place you reside and the kind of insurance coverage you could have, however all the required steps needs to be comparable for essentially the most half.
Who Ought to File the Declare?
Automobile insurance coverage claims are sometimes filed by the motive force who’s at fault—however it’s a good suggestion to file a declare together with your insurance coverage firm no matter who brought about the accident. Based mostly on the proof supplied, your insurance coverage firm will decide who’s at fault. Submitting a declare even once you’re not at fault may function a great 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 coverage, it’s your duty to file a declare with your individual 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
When you’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 guarantee that everyone seems to be okay. You or your passengers is likely to be in a state of shock and should not know the best way to act at first. Make sure that nobody is severely injured earlier than you begin making ready for the claims course of.
2. Collect Info
It’s vital to write down down as many particulars concerning the accident as you possibly can, from the time it occurred to your recollection of the order of occasions. Change your identify and insurance coverage info with the opposite driver and decide when and the place the accident befell. Make an preliminary evaluation of how extreme the accident is, so you possibly can describe it to your insurance coverage firm. When you can, take just a few footage 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 in an effort to file a police report. Your insurance coverage will possible want a police report when evaluating your declare.
4. File a Declare
As soon as everyone seems to be secure, info 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 coverage quantity (out of your card or on-line account)
- The date, time, and site of the accident
- Names, insurance coverage data, and make contact with for others concerned
- Images of auto injury and the accident scene
- A replica of the police report (if out there)
You may 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 dedication, and injury evaluation, all of which assist decide your payout. Study extra about every component of your auto insurance coverage declare course of:
Investigation and Fault Dedication
After you submit your declare, the investigation and fault dedication will embody the next:
- A claims handler will contact you inside just a few days to gather any further info wanted and supply a declare quantity.
- They’ll evaluation your report, images of the accident and scene, and the police report (if out there).
- They might converse with different drivers, witnesses, or restore professionals.
- Your automobile could also be inspected straight or via a third-party supplier.
- The handler will decide who’s at fault based mostly on the proof supplied.
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 to your automobile.
Declare Settlement and Fee
As soon as the investigation, fault dedication, injury evaluation, and protection evaluation 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 firms will coordinate to find out monetary duty.
- As soon as fee 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 just a few weeks, although it could 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, via the app, or by calling our 24/7 claims line. | Instantly – inside the similar day |
| 2. Work with an Adjuster | An adjuster contacts you to evaluation the incident, examine injury, and collect obligatory particulars. | Inside just a few days after submitting |
| 3. Adjuster Evaluations Protection to Decide Payout | The adjuster evaluates your coverage, determines fault, and calculates the payout quantity. | Just a few days to a few weeks |
| 4. Obtain Your Fee | After the declare is finalized, your fee is processed—minus any deductible. | Inside just a few days after settlement |
A Good Coverage Makes the Automobile Insurance coverage Declare Course of Clean
Having a great 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 below two minutes, and be taught extra about automotive insurance coverage from our weblog.
Why You Can Belief The Common’s Declare Course of
The Common has a historical past and monitor document you possibly can belief:
- A rated by AM Greatest for monetary stability
- In enterprise for over 60 years
- 4.7 out of 5 star ranking from over 120,000 actual buyer evaluations on TrustPilot
Listed below are just a few buyer evaluations 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 capable of get via the declare course of figuring out 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 every little thing so easy to make use of, from submitting a declare to answering any questions I’ve had concerning my coverage. “
Incessantly 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 is determined by the complexity of the accident. The method can take wherever from just a few weeks to a couple months. Easy claims could also be resolved rapidly, whereas extra concerned claims—reminiscent of these with accidents or complete loss—take longer to settle.
How lengthy do I’ve to file a declare?
Claims needs to be filed as quickly because it’s secure to take action. Reporting promptly helps guarantee particulars are correct and avoids delays. Particular deadlines could differ based mostly in your coverage and state necessities.
Do I have to file a police report for my declare?
When you’re concerned in an accident, you need to contact the police and acquire a report, particularly when one other driver is concerned. A police report helps confirm what occurred and may help the declare course of.
Will submitting a automotive insurance coverage declare increase my charges?
Submitting an auto insurance coverage declare could have an effect on your premium, significantly should you’re discovered at fault. Whereas charge adjustments aren’t assured, it’s frequent for insurance coverage charges to regulate based mostly on declare historical past. If the injury is minor and beneath your deductible, masking the price out of pocket may assist keep away from a possible improve.
Is it higher to file a declare or pay out of pocket?
In case your restore prices are lower than your deductible, it could 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) sometimes reaches out inside just a few days of submitting. They’ll evaluation your info, 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 on-line account or use The Common 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 complete loss, a claims handler will decide its worth earlier than the accident. When you personal the automobile, fee is often despatched on to you. If there’s a mortgage or lease, fee could also be despatched to the lienholder.
How do insurance coverage declare payouts work?
After a claims handler evaluations your protection and determines fault, your payout is calculated based mostly on restore estimates. If the automotive is repairable, fee is often made for these repairs. If the automobile is a complete 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 need to nonetheless file a declare. A claims handler will collect info 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 declare on-line, over the cellphone (1-800-280-1466), or by way of The Common App.
Can I file a third-party declare if I’m not insured by The Common?
Sure. When you have been concerned in an accident with somebody insured by The Common, you possibly can file a third-party declare on-line even should you’re not a policyholder.
Put The Common to Work for You
For over 60 years, The Common has supplied reliable automotive insurance coverage and a declare course of designed to maintain issues quick, clear, and stress-free. You may file and handle your declare anytime—on-line, via The Common App, or by cellphone 24/7. With a 4.7 out of 5-star ranking on Trustpilot from tens of 1000’s of consumers, drivers belief The Common to ship fast service and dependable help when it issues most.
