WHAT TO DO WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE |
NEVER ADMIT FAULT
Even if you think the accident is your fault, there
may be factors that you are not aware of. It is up
to the police or other authorities to determine who
is at fault. STICK TO THE FACTS FOR THE POLICE REPORT
Be clear and honest about the facts as you recall
them. But don't draw conclusions -- let the police
do that. ASK THE POLICE OFFER FOR AN INCIDENT NUMBER
When the police have filled out a report ask an officer
for a business card with the 'incident number'. With
an incident number you will be able to get a copy
of the accident report. Also get the names and badge
numbers of the police officers. CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY IMMEDIATELY
Even if you bought cheap automobile insurance, you
should expect the same high quality of service you
would get from a higher priced policy. If you compare
auto insurance policies, it is not the price of the
policy but the service behind it and the lack of complaints
about customer service and the lack of problems with
filing claims.
If you have a cell phone, call your insurance company's
800 number while the police are still at the accident
scene. The police may be able to assist you in your
dealings with your insurance company to speed processing
of your claim. DON'T LEAVE THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT UNTIL
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BY THE POLICE
Police work takes time. When the police arrive they
are in charge of the scene and you must follow their
orders. Be polite, cooperative, and patient. WHAT TO DO AFTER THE ACCIDENT
IF YOU HAVE NOT FILED A CLAIM OR REPORT
WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY, DO SO IMMEDIATELY AFTER
THE ACCIDENT
Many insurance companies, including low cost car insurance,
have a very small window of time in which an accident
must be reported. You may need to check your policy
to determine what that time period is. If you file
after the time limit deadline, your claim may be denied. SEE A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT
It is always best to err on the side of caution. After
any accident, you should get checked out by a doctor.
If you do not seek medical attention, you may find
that you cannot make a claim later -- if you decide
an injury you discover a few weeks later was related
to the accident. The insurance company may claim that
your injury was not due to the accident. SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE AFTER AN ACCIDENT
Even if you think you did not suffer any injury, you
may find some time later that you have headaches,
are confused, nauseous at times, experience ringing
in your ears, or feel disoriented. These are often
related to trauma to the brain. If you experience
any of these symptoms, you should seek medical help
immediately.
HOW TO HANDLE YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM
After you compare auto insurance and buy low cost car
insurance, you will discover that it's not how much
you pay but how well you compared the policies to discover
the best value. Your claims should be handled just as
well, if not better by a cheap automobile insurance
company.
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