After an accident with no serious injuries, the next worry for most drivers is filing their auto insurance claims. This process can be incredibly daunting if you don’t know what to do.
The processes involved in filing an auto insurance claim depend on who was at fault for the collision and your insurance coverage type.
Here, we lay out the step-by-step process of filing an auto insurance claim when an accident happens.
Consider Your Insurance Deductibles
An insurance deductible is the dollar amount you must pay towards an insurance loss before your insurance coverage applies. If, after a collision, the cost of repair on your vehicle is less than or near your deductible amount (also known as a loss cost), and you’re not required to file an auto insurance claim, it may not be worth filing a claim.
Contact Your Insurance Provider or Agent
After a car crash, you should call your insurance provider or agent as soon as possible, regardless of who is at fault.
You must let your insurance company know about the accident and determine whether your policy’s coverage applies to your situation for the loss.
Some insurance providers have convenient mobile apps that you can use to start your auto insurance claim. These apps allow you to:
- Report auto insurance claims
- Upload scene-of-the-accident information and photos
- Check insurance deductibles
- Request reimbursements for glass claims and towing
- Check your claim status
- Schedule appraisals
Find Out the Documentation Needed
Find out what documents you’ll need to support your auto insurance claim.
To enable you to file a claim successfully, your insurance provider will require at a minimum:
- Copy of the police report
- Copy of your insurance policy
- Copy of your vehicle’s registration certificate
- Duly filled-out “Proof of claim” form
- Estimate of the vehicle repair cost
- Original repair bills and payment receipts
- Tax receipt
- Vehicle inspection address details
- Your driver’s license copy
You should also determine whether your policy pays for a supplemental rental car while your car is in an auto body repair shop for repair.
Understand the Claim Process and Deadlines
Be sure to understand when to submit what is perhaps the essential part of auto insurance claims. Failure to do so could lead to you missing a critical claim deadline. You should pay attention to and ask your insurance provider about:
- Time limits for submitting bills and filing claims
- Time limits for resolving claims disputes
- Deadlines for submitting additional information
- When you can expect the insurance company to contact you
Supply Any Information Your Insurer Requests
Your insurer will likely need additional information before it completes any auto insurance claims.
Make sure that you provide this information as needed by keeping detailed and organized records of anything claim-related, including third-parties’ information. Get in touch with your insurance provider, insurance adjuster, or state insurance department if you are unsure about anything related to this process.
Desoto Collision Center Can Help
At Desoto Collision Center, we’ve filed hundreds of auto insurance claims for our customers to get their cars back to their “pre-loss” condition very quickly.
We prioritize our customers’ needs while keeping your insurance company informed about what work is required to make their vehicles roadworthy again. We also follow all manufacturer-specified OEM Procedures and I-Car standards, and we’re ASE-certified.
Ask us about our collision repair and auto claims insurance services for your ultimate peace of mind. We have six centers in and around the Memphis area and one in Oxford. Please contact us!
