Allentown is one of the most densely populous cities in the state of Pennsylvania, with a high traffic index of 89.65 according to crowd-sourced data.
Due to the hustle and bustle of the city, you can get involved in unfortunate incidents whether it’s your fault or not.
So, you need to leverage auto insurance with a reputed insurance company like Otosigna to secure yourself and recover your wage losses, medical treatment, and vehicle maintenance costs in case of accidents, thefts, vehicle breakdowns, injuries, or any other mishaps.
However, claiming auto insurance with Otosigna can be hectic if you do not follow the proper process. So, let’s follow a step-by-step guide to understand the complete process for successfully recovering the expenses.
First, let’s discuss the things you must do to start the claim process.
Understand Your Policy Coverage Plan
Before applying for the claim of insurance policy on your vehicle, you should look for the coverage plan for your policy.
The first thing is to know about the different coverage plans that you can avail of. These include:
- Collision: This policy reimburses all the expenses incurred in the damages to the automobile in an accident if it collides with any other vehicle, tree, roadside, or any other place on the road.
- Comprehensive Policy: This coverage covers all the expenses required in maintaining the vehicle or replacing it with a new one in case the car has been stolen. It is used in instances that are beyond your control while driving the car.
- Liability: In this coverage, the company helps pay for medical expenses for treatment of the third party or repairing damages to the third party’s vehicle or property in case of an accident caused by you.
- Medical Payments: This policy covers all the expenses of treatment in case you or your passengers are injured in an accident.
- Personal Injury Protection: This policy covers a broader range of expenses including hospital bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, funeral expenses, and more.
You should review the coverage plan that you have opted for in your insurance policy. Go through all these details before starting the claim process.
Analyze Your Deductibles
A deductible is the amount that you have to pay for vehicle maintenance, medical bills, or other expenses before you can get your insurance claim.
It’s important to optimize your policy coverage and select a plan and deductibles that align with your finances. So, you can afford the expenses that you have to pay before your insurer reimburses your amount.
You can also reduce your deductibles by paying for a higher premium plan but you have to evaluate your financial condition first.
Report the Incident to the Insurer
You should immediately notify your insurance company about the incident whether it’s a car accident, theft, vandalism, or any other mishap. So, the process can start on the spot and it can speed it up. Most insurance companies require you to report the incident within 24 to 72 hours.
Document Necessary Information
You should collect maximum information at the site of the accident such as:
- Photos of the damage to vehicles or properties
- Names, addresses, license numbers, insurance policy numbers, contact numbers, or other details of the drivers
- Eyewitnesses’ testimonies and other contact details
- Vehicle identification number with make, model, color, and year.
- License plate numbers
You should document all that information. It can help the insurer in conducting a detailed investigation of the incident and speeding up the reimbursement of the insurance claim according to your coverage plan.
File Police Report
You should file a police report as soon as the incident takes place. The police report has detailed information on the accident and the insurance company must speed up the claim process.
The insurance company trusts police reports as a reliable source because the police is a third-party institution that prepares a report based on facts and available information.
The report can also help you in legal proceedings if necessary as courts also require police reports to proceed with the cases.
Contact Claims Adjuster
After gathering all the necessary documents and information, contact the claims adjuster assigned by the company to entertain your request for claims.
Provide your adjuster with all the documents and enable transparency into the details of the incident such as damages, injuries, incident, witnesses, and other third parties. More information helps speed up your process.
That is all you need to start the claim process. The next steps explain how the insurance company processes your claim.
Investigation of Incident
The insurance company investigates the claim based on your provided information. It visits the site of the incident, evaluates the vehicle for damages, and contacts witnesses, other drivers, or passengers in the incident for verification so that the company can determine liability or the coverage it needs to cover.
Documentation of Maintenance and Treatment Bills
To claim your expenses on repairing damages to your vehicle or treat the injuries to you or other passengers, you should keep a record of the bills and receipts of your spent amount.
For example, if your vehicle is being repaired at an auto repair shop, keep all the bills for vehicle maintenance and submit these bills to the insurer for reimbursement.
In this case, your insurer can recommend an auto repair shop that provides quality services, or request estimated maintenance costs from your chosen shop.
Similarly, if you have received treatment from the hospital for injuries, keep a record of the hospital bills, doctor visits, or other treatment expenses, to receive claims on medical expenses.
The claim depends on the coverage plan you have selected. The company facilitates you accordingly.
Availing Extra Benefits
Depending on your coverage plan, the company can provide some extra benefits to you such as rental car coverage so you can continue driving while your vehicle is being repaired.
The company can also compensate you for the loss of income in case you have suffered injuries and are unable to work for a prolonged time frame.
Furthermore, if you have maintained a clean driving record by adhering to traffic rules, and driving safely, you are likely to receive discounts from Otosigna by getting some discounts on your amount.
Settlement Negotiations
After evaluating your claim, the insurer offers a settlement plan before finalizing your claim. You need to review the offer before agreeing to it. You can negotiate with the insurer if necessary.
If you disagree with the settlement offer, you can appeal or seek legal services.
Finalizing the Claim
With all said and done, the insurer settles your claim by compensating you with the amount agreed in the settlement. If there are any outstanding medical or repair bills the company settles them afterwards.
Appeal on Denied Request for Claim
There can be some instances where the insurer rejects your claim request and refuses to compensate for it. You can appeal to claim it after contacting your insurer or seek legal counsel if necessary.
Conclusion
By following this guide, you are equipped with information that can help you in claiming your insurance claim through a smooth process.
All you need to do is provide detailed information on the incident, the contact details of all the other passengers or all the parties involved, and all documents such as police reports and treatment or maintenance bills. These claims can help you recover through the tough times and get back on the road to resume driving.
Also Read, What is LOCSP?
