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Avoiding The Pitfalls Of Insurance Claims
submitted: Mar 26th 2008 |
by: SteveJohnson
Total views: 7 |
Word Count: 527 |
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Your worst-case scenario - your beloved, trusty car has been in an accident. You have no transportation, and no way to be sure you'll ever get her back in running condition. But, you have insurance, so everything should be ok, right? You calm down and call your agent. But then they tell you that it's the claims department you need to call. Now you start to worry again. What's the best way to deal with a claims department?
Don't worry too much. Submitting a car insurance claim does not have to be a major life decision. Reputable AA car insurance agencies have developed processes that are generally quick and reliable. They have learned over years that they lose too many customers if their process is unfair or too difficult and they know that there is plenty of competition.
Agencies usually develop relationships with body shops and other repair shops in your area. They will know who does good work for an honest price. Your insurance company will ask you if you have a particular shop you'd like to work with, but it's usually best to go with their suggestion. If it is a shop they have a relationship with, they may be able to take care of the entire process by phone.
In fact, you may have very little to do with the whole process. Most claims are processed \"behind the scenes,\" with the insurance companies and shops doing all their work, and then simply asking you to authorize the work. Many times, all you have to do is sign the repair order.
But even with all of these conveniences, it still pays to be careful and protect yourself. Make sure that all of the necessary repairs are part of the repair order; sometimes there are deeper problems beneath the surface. Make sure that the repair shop has done everything necessary to find those deeper issues. Once the work is done, inspect the vehicle carefully before you drive it off the stop lot. It is much harder to bring it back and convince the shop and the insurance company that a problem was there when you picked the car up.
There are cases in which the decision process about repairs will not be handled by the insurer, but a third party. This is especially true when there is the possibility that repair costs are greater than the value of the vehicle. If this option seems likely, do some research to find out the fair market value of your car in the local market. You can go online to do this, talk to a local dealer, or a local bank loan officer may be able to help.
This is a good time, too, to pat yourself on the back for getting good insurance. You could have saved a few dollars a month on cheaper premiums, but now you've saved yourself months of disputed claims and denials.
The good news is that most claims are handled quickly and without much effort on your part. If for any reason you are unsatisfied with the way your insurance agency handles the process or don't like the outcome, let them know by taking your business elsewhere.
About the Author
Get your free car insurance tips and advice on how to get Cheap Car Insurance. Auto Insurance Chicago's Cheap Car Insurance guide will provide you adequate information on getting the best car insurance.
Article Source: Unique Financial Articles
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