| By Hector Quiroga
Car accident? Let the frustration begin! I
know this because I was in one last week, and
I did not know what to do or how to react.
I was a claim adjuster for several years before
I went to law school, and even tough I handled
hundreds of insurance claims alike, I never
could comprehend how confusing a car accident
really is.
Last week, I was sitting at a light when suddenly
there was a "bum" and then another
"bum". My seat broke and I was laying
flat. I got up and I could not find my hazard
lights, and I could not remember where I was
going. Everything was simply a daze.
I just look at my car and realized there was
no way I could drive home.
When the insurance adjuster called me and I
told him what you just read, I could feel the
frustration of the adjuster. The adjuster's
questions in the recorded statement were very
detailed. I must have sounded like the biggest
idiot.
Mr. Quiroga, what is the name and badge number
of the police officer that responded to the
car accident scene?
uh? I was there and then and I was hit and
I could not find my hazard lights and my seat
was broken. That was my answer!
Ok, you get my point. A car accident happens
and we just do not know what to do. I did not
know and I had been dealing with every possible
car accident you could imagine.
Here are the 10 most valuable tips I came up
with:
Get out of the vehicle only if you believe you
are ok and/or if there is smoke.
Make sure that others are ok. Ask the other
driver.
Be careful with what you say. Many adjusters
will change your words to make it sound like
you were apologizing for the accident because
you were at fault. So a simple question like:
is every one ok in your vehicle? will do the
work.
Call the police. You need to call the police
to the accident scene. Do not trust others.
In many accidents people will tell you that
they call and never did.
Exchange insurance information with the other
driver.
Do not move the vehicle even if you are blocking
traffic. Let the police take a look at the scene
and let them determine when to move the vehicle.
If it is possible, CALL the other person's
insurance carrier and determine if there is
an active policy in force that would cover your
car accident. If not, tell the police officer.
Do not argue. Just listen and go sit down in
your car if the other person is being anxious.
Whenever you have the chance, report the accident
to your insurance company. Most insurance agents
will tell you that if the accident is minor
to deal directly with the other party so your
rates do not go up. In my opinion, this can
backfire on you. If the other party starts claiming
an injury (even if it is frivolous) and you
failed to report the loss, Insurance companies
can decline coverage because you breached your
duty to report as outlined in most insurance
polices. By reporting the car accident to your
carrier, you are putting in notice of the loss.
You can tell them that you will negotiate with
the other party but if things get ugly, you
will contact them.
If the accident was of substance. Go see a
doctor. When you are in a car accident, the
adrenaline rush is great and it will hide any
pain or injury. It is better to detect any injury
or complication early on.
Drive safe and hope that others will!
All the best,
Hector Quiroga
© Copyright www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com
All Rights Reserved.
Hector Quiroga has a high interest in helping
consumers gain knowledge of the auto insurance
claim process for both property damage and bodily
injury claims.
On http://www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com/Claim-Investigation.html
he covers in great detail what a car accident
investigation entails and share many helpful
tips for dealing with insurance companies and
adjusters.
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