Making a car insurance claim after an accident is easier than what it first appears. If you call your agent, tell them everything and hope for the best, you may not be satisfied with the final result.
Conversely, when you understand your policy and legal rights, you can take steps to prevent mistakes that could cost you time and money in the future.
Here are the types of things you never want to do:
- Forget to review your policy: Your policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. So, understanding the finer details, such as the type of coverage you’re carrying, is essential. When you know as much about your policy as your agent, you’re in a position of power.
- Share too much information: It’s okay to share the basics when making a claim, but stop short of getting into the finer details of the accident. You may think you’re sharing innocent information, just to find that your slip-up is being used against you.
- Go at it alone: Don’t assume that your insurance agent is your friend, so they’ll do whatever is in your best interest. They are always going to do whatever is best for them and their company. This is why it benefits you to have a personal injury attorney working on your behalf.
- Providing a written or recorded statement: This goes along with sharing too much information. When you put something in writing or a statement is recorded, your insurance company can review it time after time to search for something that will work in their favor.
- Accepting a check marked as final payment: Don’t put it past your insurance company to send you a check, without any or much notice, and marking it as final payment for your claim. If you cash it, you make it much more difficult to obtain additional compensation in the future.
These car insurance claim mistakes have the potential to cost you time and money, while also adding stress to an already challenging time in your life.
If you want to avoid these, review your policy, learn more about your legal rights as they pertain to your accident and don’t do anything until you’re 100 percent confident in the move you’re making.