What You Should Know About Filing an Auto Insurance Claim

Whether you've been involved in a car accident or recently had your car vandalized, you'll likely want to file an auto insurance claim so that you can get the compensation you deserve. While the claims process can be a confusing one, there are some general tips and guidelines for you to follow that should allow you to sidestep some of the more common insurance claim mistakes.

When You Should File an Auto Insurance Claim

Whenever you're involved in an auto accident, it's important that you file an insurance claim immediately after the accident has occurred. Even if the damage to your vehicle is minimal and there are no injuries, a claim needs to be filed so that you can reference it in the future if necessary. Some other situations that you might want to file a claim for include your vehicle being broken into or stolen or your vehicle being damaged from an event that isn't accident-related, which could be due to severe weather or fire.

Information You'll Need When Filing a Claim

When you're getting ready to file an auto insurance claim, there are some documents and information that you'll want to gather. When speaking to an insurance agent, make sure that you provide your name, policy number, the time and date when the accident took place, and the driver's license and license plate numbers for any driver involved in the accident. If you have the names and phone numbers of the other passengers, drivers, and witnesses, this information should also be provided.

Standard Steps for Filing an Insurance Claim

The claims process formally begins when you contact your insurance agency to file the claim. An insurance agent will then be provided with your case assignment. You'll either talk over the phone or meet with the agent to further discuss the situation and what your insurance policy covers. Make sure that you tell the complete truth when talking to your agent. The agent will then conduct a thorough evaluation of your claim, which might include an inspection of your car. The claim will then either be accepted or denied, after which you will receive any payment that you may be owed.

If you have any questions about how to fill out your auto insurance claim, call the Della Porta Group in Jacksonville to get in touch with one of our agents who will answer any questions you have.