Inspection And Repair Process
Once you report your claim, if eligible, make an appointment for a damage inspection.
- The inspection typically takes around 30 minutes.
- If your car isn’t safe to drive, we’ll send a GEICO adjuster to look at your car.
- You don’t have to meet with our adjuster unless you want to.
After the inspection, you can have your vehicle repaired anywhere you wish.
Consider an Auto Repair Xpress® location for one-stop inspection, repair, and rental.
- The shop will begin the repair process as soon as you drop off your vehicle.
- You can go home in a rental vehicle if you have rental reimbursement coverage.
- You’ll get regular updates on your car’s repair progress
Report a new claim or track your claim today to see if you can schedule an inspection appointment online.
Know What You Deserve
Knowing your state’s prompt-payment law is beneficial. Every state’s unfair claims settlement practices act outlines the time frame in which an insurer must issue you a check for your damages. We have more on how your states Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act can help you.
Laws vary widely from state to state, with many simply mandating a “prompt” payment of claims, while others specify a number of days and the interest owed to you if the insurer fails to pay within the specified period.
One last factor to keep in mind: Unfair claims settlement practices acts often do not extend the same rights to you if you’re making a claim against another driver’s insurance as opposed to making a claim under your own insurance policy.
Writing a matter-of-fact letter to the at-fault person’s insurance company is a smart way to inform it of your expectations and rights. Telling the insurer that you expect it to pay all reasonable costs you incur as a result of the accident, including payment for repairs to or the total-loss value of your vehicle, diminished value of your car, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and rental-car costs will highlight the insurer’s responsibilities under public policy.
Make sure you keep a record of all correspondence, including dates and the names of customer service reps.
Make An Accurate Record
To the best of your ability, tell the investigating officer exactly what happened. It might even be a good idea to jot down what happened or record yourself explaining the accident as small details are often quickly forgotten. However, be sure not to take fault for the accident, but instead, merely relay the facts of what took place with the greatest detail you can.
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Keep Calm Document Everything For Insurance Claims And Call The Police
by Wendy Helfenbaum, AARP, June 21, 2021| 0
En español | Each year, more than 6 million car accidents happen in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Whether you’ve been in a minor fender bender or a serious collision, you may be too shaken up to think clearly, so it’s important to educate yourself a bit ahead of time. Here’s what to do at the scene and afterward to make the claims process easier.
How To File A Claim With Progressive
You can file a claim through our mobile app, online, or by calling us at . Learn more about theclaims process for auto insurance.
Pro Tip:
Consider adding uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to your auto policy to help minimize your costs if you have an accident with another driver who doesn’t carry auto insurance.
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What To Do Or Not To Do If You’re In A Car Accident
Whether you cause the accident or you are the victim, there is nothing pleasant about being in a car accident. However, it’s important you know what to do and what information to collect to get through the process efficiently.
Learn more about what to do in the event you are in a car accident.
When involved in an accident, all drivers should obtain the following:
- Name, address and phone number of each driver and each vehicles registered owner
- Drivers licence number, insurance company and policy number of each driver
- Licence plate number of each vehicle
- Name and phone number of any passengers and witnesses
Download our accident checklist and keep a copy in your glove box to record all the information you need.
BrokerLink works with you to get the coverage you need. Speak with a BrokerLink broker and get more information about finding auto insurance with the best coverage and value in mind.
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Being Prepared For A Car Accident: Items To Have In Your Car
Keep reflective triangles or other safety warning devices in your trunk so you can help make your car more visible on the roadside following an accident. Other items to keep in your vehicle include:
- Your current insurance ID card
- Your vehicle registration
Finally, to document important accident information, you can use your smartphone, or keep a pen or pencil and a notepad in your car.
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Notify The Right People
First, inform the other person’s insurer that you have been involved in a crash with one of its policyholders. Relay only the facts of the accident, even if you believe the other driver to be at fault, its not smart to just say that. Instead, give the insurer the facts to show their driver is at fault and liable for your damages.
The police will determine who is at fault for ticketing purposes. Independently, the insurer will make its own determination of fault, which may or may not match law enforcements assessment of fault. The insurer will take into account items such as the police report, driver and witness statements and physical evidence.
Although you may feel that you have not caused the accident, you might want to contact your insurance company anyway. This establishes your good-faith accident-reporting effort and can aid you if the other party’s insurer denies responsibility for the accident or it turns out their insurance was not valid at the time of the incident and you need to make a collision claim.
Theoretically, you should only have to notify the other party’s insurer of your damages and injuries, take your car to a body shop, visit a doctor and expect the insurer to pay your bills.
Remember that an insurance company can’t force you to take your vehicle to a specific repair facility. Most states allow auto insurers to recommend auto body shops but they aren’t allowed to demand you use a certain repair facility. The choice is yours.
Record Some Important Details
- Make a note of all injuries and damage, draw a sketch map of the scene and take photos if you can.
- Get the registration and insurance company name and policy number of all the other vehicles. This should be on the insurance disc on the windscreen.
- Exchange names and addresses with the other drivers, passengers and witnesses. Take any reasonable emergency steps to avoid further loss, like moving the vehicles safely off the road, once you’ve recorded the details of the scene.
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Things You Need To Do After A Car Accidents
Have you been involved in a car accident, and you do not know what to do next? Then it would help if you relaxed since we the Carrillo law centre got you covered. Did you know that if other drivers caused the accident, you could recover compensation for your injuries?This article shall discuss some of the things you need to do after getting involved in a car accident. Those things include
What Types Of Injury Are Common In A Road Traffic Accident
Car and road traffic accidents can cause a wide range of impact injuries. Most UK police constabularies classify road accident injuries into five categories. The most serious category is fatality, of which there were 1,752 instances in 2019. The others are:
- Slight – covers injuries like neck whiplash, shock, bruising, soft tissue sprains and strains plus shallow cuts, grazing and abrasions.
- Less serious – deep cuts, hand, arm or collarbone fractures plus foot, ankle or lower leg fractures and minor head injuries.
- Moderately serious – chest injuries, deeply penetrating wounds and thigh or pelvis fracture,
- Very serious – broken neck or spine, severe head, chest or crush injury with loss of consciousness or breathing difficulty. Also included are all internal injuries and multiple severe injuries combined with a loss of consciousness.
Motorcycling injuries are often more serious than those sustained in a car or commercial vehicle. It’s also worth pointing out that whiplash, while common, can vary wildly in severity. Bad cases can be very hard to deal with and can take months to heal.
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Understand Your Injury Coverage
In most states you would make a claim for your injuries through the at-fault persons auto insurer. If they are uninsured, you could make a claim through your own uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, if you have it, or through your health insurance.
There are some states that require you to purchase personal injury protection and have slightly different rules for collecting for your injuries after an accident. For example, your PIP coverage pays for your medical expenses and lost wages, even if you are not to blame for the crash. Receiving your PIP benefits requires you to make a claim under your own insurance policy. A deductible and/or copayment may be due when you use your PIP coverages.
This is commonly the situation in no-fault states although the law differs in each one. Some no-fault states give you the option of contacting the at-fault driver’s insurer to recover medical expenses not paid by your PIP. Your vehicles property damage would still be claimed through the at-fault partys liability coverage in no-fault states .
According to the Insurance Information Institute, 12 states and Puerto Rico have no-fault insurance laws: Florida, Hawaii,, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota Pennsylvania and Utah. If you live in one of these states, its wise to check with your insurance agent, or your state insurance department, for the tips on how to handle third-party accident claims.
Shop Around For Lower Car Insurance Rates
Your car insurance rates rates could go up significantly depending on the severity of the accident and your insurance company. While some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness, which means your at-fault accident may not result in higher premiums, other companies might double your rate for the same accident.
In fact, a Consumer Federation of America report indicated some companies will even raise rates 10% or more for accidents that werent your fault. Yet other policies only levy a price increase if youre at fault. Even the amount of time an accident affects your rates varies by state and company.
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Be Cautious As A Witness To An Accident
In more tense situations, especially if someone was driving inappropriately or recklessly and caused the accident, the victim will benefit from you giving a statement to the police as a witness.
Your presence might also help to defuse a possible argument between the drivers, or prevent someone from trying to leave the scene. Just be mindful of your own safety, and try to stay calm.
Will The Police Come To The Scene Of The Accident
It depends. Police may or may not come to the scene of an accident based on many factors including the amount of damage, if there are injuries, and the location of the accident. Call the police, and they will let you know if they are en route to the scene or if you should visit an accident reporting centre to file a police report for the accident.
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What To Do After A Car Accident: 6 Steps To Take
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Accidents happen, even to careful drivers. After a car accident, you might be stunned with shock, dizzy with adrenaline or enraged at the guy who ran a red light.
The first thing to do after youve been in a car accident? Stay calm. The post-accident process is fairly straightforward, but its not always easy. Keeping a cool head will help you document the wreck more thoroughly and accurately.
Use the tips below to prepare yourself to handle the stressful aftermath of an auto accident and to make the claims process if there is one more efficient and effective.
What To Do In The Immediate Aftermath
The accident just happened. Youve come to a complete stop, turned off your car, and turned on your hazard lights. Here are some basic steps you should absolutely follow:
- Check for Injuries if you, the other driver involved, or any passengers have even minor injuries as a result of the collision you are legally obligated to call the police
- Check for Damage check your vehicle and the other vehicle involved for damage, if the total damage for every car involved is more than $2000 worth you must call the police
- Take Pictures use a camera or your smartphone to take pictures of injuries, visible damage to each vehicle, the license plates of each vehicle, and of all the drivers involved for evidence
- Move to a Safer Spot after the above steps have been taken, make sure you move your car out of the middle of the intersection or road
- Gather Information exchange names, addresses, license numbers and insurance information with all involved drivers, and get the contact information for any witnesses
- Report to the Police you can contact a Collision Report Centre that are police facilities that help drivers in accidents, arrange for photos, help with reporting, and recommending a nearby body shop
Useful Tip!
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What Should I Do After A Car Accident That Wasnt My Fault
Car accidents are traumatic events, especially if youre involved in a crash that occurred through no fault of your own. You might feel frightened, in shock or in pain after a high-impact collision, and not sure how to proceed next.
Keep reading to learn the answers to important questions you may be asking yourself after a car accident that wasnt your fault.
What If I Don’t Claim
Even if you decide not to make a claim, you should still tell your insurer about the accident because the other driver may try to make a claim without you knowing. You may choose not to claim:
- To keep your no claims discount intact, if you don’t have a ‘protected no claims discount’
- If you decide to pay for the repairs yourself
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Determine Whether Anyone Is Hurt
Never leave the scene of an accident, even a minor one. Your first priority is safety everything else can wait, says Rob Luna, group manager of auto claims at the American Automobile Association in Costa Mesa, California.
“Make sure everybody’s OK and get medical assistance if you or somebody else needs it, Luna says.
Who Is Responsible For Paying My Deductible In A No
The at-fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for paying your deductible in a no-fault accident. However, it often takes a long period to process such claims. If you want to get your car back on the road in no time, you may have to pay your deductible yourself, says American Family Insurance.
Check this out if you need additional information, resources, or guidance on car insurance.
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The Car Accident Lawyer Will Represent You In Court
A car accident lawyer will be with you every step of the way, whether at the negotiation table, in court, or if necessary, all the way to the appellate level if an appeal is essential. It is up to the lawyer to determine if this settlement is fair or not. If the offer is not appropriate, the lawyer will demand more. The goal of the demand is to force the insurance carrier to pay as much as possible while remaining within the range specified by the insurance carrier. If the case is not worth hitting the sweet spot, the lawyer will recommend you accept the offer. However, if the case is worth hitting the sweet spot, the lawyer will negotiate on your behalf until an acceptable settlement is reached.
Accidents With Less Than $2000 Damage But Still Are Required To Be Reported
There are certain instances where you are still need to report an accident, even if there is less than $2,000 damage :
- A crime was committed impaired driving, stolen vehicle, etc.
- There is an injury
- A vehicle is transporting dangerous goods
- The accident involves a government vehicle
- The driver is uninsured or doesnt have a license
- There is damage to private property
- The accident involved a pedestrian or cyclist
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