
Filing an insurance claim makes more sense when the damage a vehicle suffers is more than what you have in your deductible but if what you are talking about is a minor accident then you might think that filing a claim or reporting the accident to the police is a very unusual thing to. This is when you start asking “do you have to make a claim after an accident”? Take for example, it is hard for anyone to file a claim for a deductible of five hundred dollars when what you have in damages is just three hundred dollars.
This might just be like a dent on your vehicle, a broken headlight or maybe your paint has been scratched. It can also be pointless for anyone to file a claim if they do not have the right policy coverage for it but at the same time, it is very risky for you to avoid filing a claim with the insurance company and with the police if you have been involved in an accident. It is even more important when the accident involves another person and also if you still financial responsible for your vehicle.
Do You Have To Make A Claim After An Accident
The power or authority to hold other drivers accountable doesn’t lie with you and if you have been involved in a car accident with another driver then you cannot be sure if the other driver would keep to his words. This might get to sound cynical but if another driver promises to pay you for the damages incurred out of his pocket, you really cannot trust those words because there is no guarantee that he would keep to his words.
You cannot tell if the personal information given is correct and in addition, it also puts you in the spot where you might end up paying for all the damages yourself. It is also possible for you to forget some important details and you might also forget to add some potential damage when assessing the damages that your vehicle has suffered. You might think what you have is a scratch but it might end up being something bigger.
It would be better for you to get your settlement than for you to pay out of your pocket. If you are dealing with another driver, still paying for the vehicle and you get involved in an accident then you would need to file a report with the police so that the auto lender of the vehicle would be notified. This is the point where you would have to provide proof of repairs. Another reason why you should make a claim is notifying your insurer.
This would help them in investigating your claims after the accident and this is why it is necessary that the accident is reported in a timely manner so the claims can be properly investigated. It would also help them in managing the other drivers injuries and damages to property. Delaying this process could lead to a possible delay or denial of your claims and this might just leave you in a spot where you might have to pay for everything yourself.
How To File A Claim After An Accident
After an accident, make sure that personal information between you and the other driver is exchanged and you should also take photos of the accident scene as well as the damaged vehicle. If your accident was just a minor scratch or a dent to your side mirror you should also make sure that you report it to your insurance company sooner. Your insurance company would review testimonies and paperwork.
Team of people would be assigned to your case once you file a claim with your insurance company and this would help in figuring out who is at fault as well as working with the insurance company of the other driver. They would also help you in getting settlement, finding a good body shop and also making sure that your car is repaired properly. If there are claims against you then the claims would be investigated properly.
They would also end up working with the other drivers insurance company to see if they can negotiate a deal.
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