CAR ACCIDENT! Now What?

What you should do after a car accident

By Tara Baukus Mello • Bankrate.com

The dreadful thump of two cars colliding is enough to send anyone's blood pressure skyward, even if it's just a fender bender. Once the people and cars have moved to a safe area and any injuries have been addressed, it's time to get down to the details your car insurance company will need to file a claim. Here are four steps to remember when you're in a car accident.

1. Take notes. While the other party is digging for his or her registration and car insurance card, take a deep breath and jot down some notes or even draw a diagram to explain what happened. Doing this first will help you remember what happened, and you won't doubt yourself based on a comment someone else makes about the collision. Note the street you were traveling on, a nearby street number and a cross-street if there is one. Include information about the direction the cars were traveling when the car accident occurred. Get information from any witnesses as well.

2. Take photos. Take photos, using a cellphone if necessary, of the area where the accident occurred as well as of the damage, or lack of it, of all the cars involved, including your own. If it's safe to do so, photograph each car by standing at an angle from each wheel so one side of the car and either the front or rear is fully visible. Include close-ups of any damage. Take pictures of the license plate on each car, the people involved if appropriate, and anything that can help your car insurance company understand how the car accident happened and possibly determine fault or fraud.

3. Exchange information. Ask for the person's car insurance card, registration and driver's license, and copy the information yourself to ensure accuracy. Ask if the address is current and if not, get the person's new address as well. Compare the information from all three documents, taking note of any discrepancies.

4. Report the accident to your car insurance company. Even if there appears to be minimal damage, you probably want to file a claim because repair costs for just bumper damage will often exceed a low deductible. Plus, minor exterior damage can mean more expensive underlying damage because cars are designed to flex and bend in a car accident to absorb the energy and better protect occupants. Some of our auto insurers, including Nationwide, Progressive and Travelers, offer smartphone apps that can help file a claim, or you may need to call your car insurance company when you get home.

FIRE & SMOKE...

Top 10 Questions

Fire & Smoke Damage

& Homeowners Insurance

1.     How do I document or record what I have in my home? How do I complete a home inventory?

Before the damage is a major concern or issue it is best to complete a Home Inventory.

You can start your home inventory by making a list of your possessions, describing each item, and noting the make and model and where each item was purchased. Include sales receipts, purchase contracts and appraisals if you have them, too.

A few home inventory organization tips:

Remember to list big-ticket items like jewelry, artwork and collectibles.

Take pictures of rooms and important individual items.

Videotape your home by walking through it and describing the contents throughout the house.

Save an inventory list on your personal computer and store it on a separate disk or drive.

Put all your photos, lists and videotape documentation in a safe deposit box.

Align Group Insurance can provide you with our Home Inventory Worksheets to help you document and not miss anything.

2.     How is a fire damage estimate completed relative to an insurance claim?

Typically items that can cause further damage to the structure are taken care of with a service authorization and down payment. This fire damage service may include emergency drying, protection of metals and mirrors and glass, board up, air filtration, and demolition. Then a contractor can offer an estimate for repairs for reconstruction to the insurance company. Sometimes they will send an adjuster, other times they will use the estimate and documented photos to allow proceeding with construction to occur. Most companies will want to see a detailed sketch of each room, line items with specific costs and photos.

3.     When should the emergency remediation start?

Immediately. Most insurance companies will allow for covered losses starting immediately as long as the unit costs conform with the correct cost for damage due to fire.

4.     How long after I file my claim will it take for the insurance company to send someone out to inspect the loss site?

That depends on whether the site is accessible and safe, and whether your loss is one of many in a broad disaster or a single home fire or other type of loss. Most policies say that once you provide notice to your insurer in writing, the company must begin investigating your claim within 15 days, unless there is a named storm, which may give them additional time.

5.      What are my duties and what are my insurers' duties after a loss?

Your Duties:

Give your insurer written notice of your claim.

Cooperate with reasonable requests from your insurance company.

Support your loss by providing requested information to the insurer.

Mitigate your damages (Take steps to prevent further damage).

Your insurer's duties:

Investigate your claim thoroughly and in a timely fashion.

Treat you fairly.

Pay for covered damage promptly.

Tell you in writing why your claim or part of your claim was denied.

6.      Who is responsible for clearing the debris from my lot and is that covered under my policy?

It is your responsibility to have debris removed. If your home was damaged in a disaster, your city or county may offer to clear your lot as part of a coordinated debris removal program. Coverage for debris removal depends on your policy's specific wording.

7.     Is there anything I need to do before my lot gets cleared?

It is recommended to take pictures of the debris and any visible items. Start thinking about the items damaged, destroyed or missing to try to jog your memory. List the items as you recall them. Record the condition of the site on video if you can.

8.     The cause and origin of the event that destroyed my home is not 100% clear. How will it be determined? What do I need to do to protect myself so that I am covered for damages?

The cause of your loss has an impact on whether or not there is coverage.  It is the policyholder's burden to prove the cause of loss. For that reason, it is important that you document everything carefully and provide expert opinions to back up your position, especially if there is any question or suspicion about what caused your loss. Don't leave it up to the insurance adjuster to determine the cause. If you have multiple policies, be sure to file claims with all possible insurers.

9.     Do I need to question everything my adjuster says or just on "big-ticket" items related to causes and amounts of damage? 

Yes, it is recommended to get second opinions on "big-ticket" items.  Also, refer to your Homeowners Inventory for these items as well.

10.   Will my insurance company make arrangements for temporary housing? What items can I claim for reimbursement as covered under the Additional Living Expense (ALE) portion of my coverage? How long will my insurer cover temporary rent/living expenses?

If you have Additional Living Expense coverage, your insurance company should reimburse you for temporary housing. They may arrange housing for you. Generally you will need to make your own arrangements. 

Additional Living Expense coverage will reimburse you for reasonable expenses for food, lodging, gas, etc. that are over and above your usual costs of living. Look to your policy to see the extent of your specific coverage.  Sometimes you can ask for an advance to get yourself situated. The insurer will determine the time needed to properly repair/rebuild. There is likely to be a limit in your policy for amount of money and time (number of months). However, you don't have to take their first offer if in fact more time is required. Don't use up your Additional Living Expense too quickly if at all possible, but basically your insurer will pay what's reasonable.

HAIL DAMAGE

I have hail damage.
What do I need to do?

Put safety first.
Windows are broken.  Roofs and cars take a beating.  High winds down trees and power lines.

When you survey your damage, remember that there may be broken glass, sharp objects and live wires.  Wear proper shoes and gloves.  Don't use rain-soaked electrical equipment.  Always make safety your first priority.

Call your Insurance Company and file your claim.  
Your insurance company will list their number on your documents page, online or call Align Group Insurance and we can help and direct you to the Claims Department.

If you have hailstorm damage, report it to your Home Insurance Carrier as soon as possible.  During this first call, you should be read you provide at least a general description of your damage.  A representative will talk you through your claim, recording the details.

A claims professional will call you after you've reported your claim.  Most of the time they are able to make contact with 72 hours.  If you have serious damage, they will make every effort to get to you first.

Make temporary repairs.
If hail has caused damage to the roof of your property or your car, it is your responsibility to take action to avoid further damage.

As soon as you can, start making a list of items that were damaged in the hailstorm.

If you can, cover broken windows and roofs with tarps or plywood to prevent water damage.  Move wet items to drier ground and wash and dry whatever you can. If you're not sure it's safe for you to do the work, professionals can help.  You'll usually find them listed under contractors or "water damage restoration" in your phone directory.

Make sure to save receipts from any temporary fixes as part of documenting your damage.

Review your insurance policy, so you know what's covered.
Your insurance policy typically covers the cost to repair common hail damage - including damage to roofs, walls and cars, and your inventory or belongings.  However, your deductible does apply - and you may have a higher deductible for wind/hail damage on your policy.  Check your policy to see what's covered and the deductible you've chosen.  Reviewing your policy will help you prepare questions for your claims professional.

Document your damage.
As soon as you can, start making a list of items that were damaged in the hailstorm.  A good, thorough list will help us process your claim faster.  Document the damage with photos, video tapes, bills and recipts.  In the meantime, don't throw out damaged items - especially expensive ones.

Your claims professional will advise you about specific information we will need from you to process your claim so you can get started on permanent repairs.

Schedule permanent repairs.
Insurance Companies typically require you to wait until your claims professional has assessed your damage before you begin to make permanent repairs.  However, we encourage you to schedule permanent repairs as soon as possible because contractors can be tough to schedule when storms hit town.  Use a local, licensed, bonded and insured contractor, and check their references.

Understand your responsibility if you want to make upgrades.
Your insurance company will replace damaged items and materials of the same type and quality of the materials you're replacing.  For example, if you have a fiberglass roof, they will pay to repair or replace damage with fiberglass materials - but they won't pay to replace it with expensive slate tile.

If damage is extensive, people sometimes decide to take the opportunity to upgrade their property with better or more expensive materials.  Again, the insurance will only pay for replacing materials of the same type and quality.  If you want to pay the additional expense to upgrade, you'r cerainly welcome to do that out of your personal budget.

Any time you make improvements to your property, talk to your agent to make sure you have enough insurance and to find out if you are eligible for discounts.

PERSPECTIVE

LOWER NORTH FORK FIRE in JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

1. The Lower North Fork Fire in Jefferson County began after a controlled burn on Thursday spiraled out of control Monday afternoon.  

1. The fire, now about 4,100 acres, is 15 percent contained and has claimed 27 structures and two lives.  The Forest Service has apologized after saying a 50-acre prescribed burn officials were managing went out of control.

1. Firefighters are working hard to get the fire completely contained before Saturday, when high winds are expected to return and temperatures will reach the mid-80s.

1. Every time a disaster hits close to  home it makes us all stop and think about our own life and family.  In the case of the fire, I was driving back to Colorado late Monday night only to see smoke everywhere as I drove down into Denver.  I turned on the radio and listened to them describe the blaze and how it was causing families to be evacuated.

1. Recently there was a fire even closer to my home and the first thing I thought of was my insurance policy and then our clients.  Did I know of anyone immediately that we cover their insurance that lives near there?  I hope they have enough insurance?  We really do care at Align Group Insurance and we would be there to help in any way we can.

1. I hope as all of us here in the Denver area and around think about this fire, the homes lost and the damage that we take a minute to check our own policies, make our life easier should anything happen to us.  It would be devastating, but having the right coverage can lessen the stress and burden on a family.

1. 
   

Saving Money & Insurance

Everybody loves to save money.  Everybody.  So when you see an article by Yahoo Finance titled:

Save Money Every Day: 10 Painless Tricks

It makes me want to read it.  While scrolling through and making mental notes I saw #8:

8. Get an insurance checkup 

This is what we do at Align Group Insurance!  This is what we are telling people everyday.  I recommend taking a few minutes to read the whole article.  We can help you do an insurance check-up quickly and easily.  If you haven't had an insurance check-up in a few years we can definitely help  you save  money, and you can have that immediate gratification of saving money mentioned in the article.  Our quotes can be processed quickly.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/save-money-every-day--10-painless-tricks.html

Here is what the article says just about your Insurance Check-Up:

8. Get an insurance checkup

I admit that gathering up all of your insurance documentation may not be much fun, but it can be a very profitable time investment. I had been with State Farm for a couple of decades, and saw my rates go up without any claims. Until finally, several years ago, I met with an independent agent. It was like a Geico commercial - though it took more than 15 minutes, it did save me hundreds of dollars a year. For me, it was Auto Owners insurance.

Years later, my rates haven't gone up much. I'll admit, however, I still haven't had a claim so I can't be sure I've made the right move. AutoOwners has one of the highest customer satisfaction rankings on J.D. Powers. You need to make sure any insurance company you have is ranked high in both customer satisfaction and financial stability.

Payoff: Cut $600 annually from my property and casualty insurance. 

Call us today to let us help you save that $600 annually.

Align Group Insurance

303-752-6479

aligngroupins.com

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