If you’ve been in a car accident in Brockton, Randolph, or Stoughton, navigating the insurance claim process can be tough, especially with so many different policies available. We want to make the insurance claim process as stress-free as possible, so we’ve prepared this guide to help you.

Basics of Car Insurance Claims

When you file an insurance claim, your company completes an investigation before reaching a final settlement. The investigation typically depends on the nature of the accident, your insurance company’s internal policies, and whether the accident involved property damage or injuries. That being said, most insurance companies follow similar steps during their investigation.

After the Claim Is Filed

As soon as you file your claim, your case will be assigned to a claims adjustor, who reviews your policy to make sure that you’re covered. He or she may request that you send a copy of a police report then contact the other parties involved in the accident, interview witnesses, visit the scene of the accident, inspect your car’s damage, and take pictures of your car or ask you to sign a medical release form in order to view your records.

Medical Costs and Vehicle Repairs

Until your company determines who’s at fault in a car accident, they’ll cover injuries and car repairs. Afterwards, they negotiate with the other party’s insurance company to figure out who pays for what damages. This is called indemnification, or coverage for damages and losses.

For repairs, you can visit a body shop approved by your insurance company or choose your own repair shop. If you choose the latter, you may have to pay the difference between their estimate and what the insurance company determines is a fair price. Your adjuster may request that you get a quote from several auto shops to compare their prices.

If you were hurt during an accident, your insurance adjuster will need medical records to verify your injuries. You may need to sign a waiver granting permission for access to those records. If this is the case, we recommend speaking with a personal injury attorney to decide if that’s in your best interest Otherwise, your adjuster could use your medical history to lower your claim.

Keep Your Story Straight

You’ll need to give your adjuster as much information as possible for the best settlement, including a narrative of events, your policy number, the date of the accident, the location of the accident, insurance information from the other party involved, the name of the police department involved, and the police report number. From there, the adjuster will review the case.

Determining Fault

Once the investigation is complete, your insurance adjuster will determine who’s at fault and figure out which parties pay for what damages. The insurance company may pay for the entire settlement in some cases, depending on your company and policy. Talk to your insurance company representative to learn more.

Accident Insurance at Collision 24

If you’ve been in a collision in Brockton, Randolph, or Stoughton, stop by Collison 24 for your accident repairs. We accept insurance from all major carriers.

If you have any more questions about the insurance claim process, feel free to give us a call at 508-586-2010 or schedule your service online. Our address is 97 Manley Street in Brockton, MA.

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