Reporting an Auto Insurance Claim

As we choose our car insurance and pay the premium every month, we do so with the hope that we will never actually need the benefits the policy offers.

Unfortunately, for a small percentage of the population, a time will come where they will have to use their auto insurance policy and place auto insurance claims. In these times of an auto accident, there are some things you can do to remain calm, collected and effectual as you file the necessary claims.

• The first thing you should do in the event of an accident is call your agent. Agents are there to make this process easier for you. One phone call to your agent will allow you to take yourself out of the picture for much of the paperwork and claims coordination and be confident in the knowledge that they are done correctly. Your agent will ask you about the accident (some may even visit the scene) or incident surrounding the claim and file the paperwork for you.

• If your agent is unavailable, call your insurance company with a toll free claims number. A company representative will be on the line to help guide you through the process. If you want updates and further requirements to be communicated to you through your agent, be sure to let the insurance company know so they can put this information in their system.

• Before you make your claim with the insurance company or your agent, make sure you have all the pertinent information with you. You should have your policy number, the insurance and contact information of any other person involved in the claim, the details of the event that caused the claim, police reports and pictures. If you were not there when the claim happened, make sure you have all the information about how you found the car and the damage. Be sure to keep a copy of the claim and any supporting documents for your records.

If you have any doubt that you will not be able to remember important details relevant to the claim, make sure that you write them down or take a picture with your phone as soon as possible after the incident. You can hold on to this paper in the event that future questions arise that you don’t remember the answers to or you can include the statement in your claim. Taking pictures of your damaged vehicle or property and the scene where it happened is a great way to document the facts for your claim. Always be sure to tell your agent everything you know for your claim. They will be sure you are cared for and protected.

If you are looking for an insurance agent who will be with you every step of the way in these times of an accident, give ACF Insurance Services Inc a call at 919-878-7786 or visit their website to find information on Raleigh auto insurance.