Check out how to report a car accident, make an insurance claim, and find help and advice to guide you through the necessary steps to take after a road accident.
You’ve been in a car accident and filed a claim. What now? Find out what to do after filing a claim for insurance and how to quickly get your vehicle back on track.
Rear end accidents are quite common. Ensure contacting an attorney for safety and taking legal measures.
What to Expect?
If you are into a car accident and are filing an insurance claim for the damage, please follow the necessary steps below.
- Contact your insurance company and file a claim.
- Get your license checked.
- Confirm repair and pick up the vehicle.
- Choose an auto repair shop.
- Send your car to repair it.
- Keep track of your garage and insurance company.
Contact your Insurance Company
Please move away immediately with your car to a safe place after a car accident. Then exchange information with the other drivers involved and contact your insurance company.
Call your insurance company if you are safe at the scene of the accident. It is helpful to discuss with someone what you should do.
Please be prepared to provide your name, ID, contact details, vehicle license certificate, driver’s license number, and incident summary.
If you want to file an insurance claim, you need to fill out the claim form with the insurance company. Most companies allow you to submit a request online on their website or through a mobile application.
Choosing a Maintenance Shop
In most countries, insurance companies can not lawfully ask you to choose a specific service center. Sometimes, a list of recommended mechanics is provided by a few organizations.
If you are making a car payment, the lender may ask you to choose a store from this list.
If not, you have the authority to pick the maintenance shop for the car. If you work with a store listed in the insurance company network, you can save time and trouble. For example you can also choose an auto repair ship from Dinggo.
On the other hand, your insurance company’s preferred technicians may use aftermarket parts to save costs.
If you do not know any car repair shop, please consider the following tips when making your decision:
- Check whether the mechanic has passed ASE certification.
- Ask for a repair warranty in case the initial repair cannot fix your car damage.
- Read online reviews of previous customers and look for overall high ratings.
- Consider your car company’s auto shop because the technician knows what’s best for your vehicle and make sure your warranty is not nullified.
- Check if the store uses replacement parts and remind them that original parts are needed to keep the car’s warranty valid.
- Verify the estimate with multiple service centers and ask if the technician is taking proper precautions for the repair process.
- Ask whether the store is affiliated with AAA/AA PLCbecause they conduct a credit review of the repair shop.
- Before repair, ask a mechanic to tell you what is wrong with your vehicle.
Certifications
These certifications make body repair shops more credible and, at the same time, make you more confident in car repair:
- PPG Certification
- Parts Plus Car Care
- NAPA Autocare
- Better Business Bureau
- ICAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair)
- ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)
- AC-Delco
- AAA/AA PLC
Take Your Car for Repairing
After making an appointment with a mechanic, you need to figure out what to do if you cannot drive the car.
- Rent a tow truck to take your car to the maintenance.
- If you are a AAA/AA PLC or any other road club member please check, if they can tow your car for you.
- Check if your car insurance company has roadside assistance with towing.
Maintenance
You can ask your insurance provider how long it will take to fix the car. Most claims have restrictive regulations that set a maintenance schedule before the request is no longer valid.
Also, the cost of repair with issues such as windshield damage may increase the time you wait for repairs, and your insurance company may not agree to pay additional fees.
Follow Up Insurance and Repair
Check carefully with the insurance company whether you need to reimburse the repair costs. You will want to get a written agreement from the insurance company or repair shop about expenses or reimbursement.
You may need to display a detailed repair list and estimated cost, depending on your insurance company. When making a claim, obtain a list of these requirements and follow them.
Confirm Repairs
When your car is ready, your mechanic will inform you. Before driving home, please carefully check the car’s maintenance conditions and bills to ensure everything is in order.
- Ask a mechanic to guide you through the repair work.
- Check if the bill is the same as the estimate given before the repair.
- Check the bill carefully and make sure you understand everything.
- Take a test drive to make sure everything is working fine.
Pay for Repairs
Suppose you find that you are at fault due to an accident. In that case, you need to pay the deductible before the insurance company can authorize the repair.
If you are not at fault, your insurance company should negotiate with the insurance company of the driver at fault to compensate for your deductible.
Some companies pay the repair shop directly instead of paying you, mostly if the repair shop is listed or recommended.
Not Satisfied with Repair Works?
If you retrieve the car from the store but don’t like the quality of the work done, there are several ways you can follow to readjust your claim.
- Contact insurance companies and repair shops. Explain why you are not satisfied and provide repair pictures.
- Ask to talk to the supervisor. If you do not have an insurance representative, ask if the manager can help you.
- Talk to a lawyer. You can sue an insurance company, but you have to consider attorney fees. Use this step only if there is a lot of damage left after your insurance has paid for the repair.
- File a complaint. If you still have problems, you can file a dispute with your state insurance department. The process varies from state to state, but in most areas, you can file a complaint online.
Bottom line
Getting into a car accident and handling insurance claims can be frustrating, but knowing what to expect and what steps to take can help you avoid headaches.
Make sure of the correct procedure to follow after a car accident.