AGENCY CORNER: Auto Claims

WHEN AUTO CLAIMS OCCUR

by Eddie Campbell

Plan Ahead To Avoid Confusion When An Auto Claim Occurs

No one wants to anticipate having an auto claim, but unfortunately, it happens. Your actions before an accident will have a big impact on how the claim may get resolved. It is stressful at the time of the accident and difficult to remember what you should do.

Here are several steps to consider having in place beforehand.

• Prepare a Post-Accident list for all your drivers to follow with the following items. Review these with the drivers in advance as part of your driver training.

1. Immediately call 911 with the location and any injuries involved.

2. Contact the owner giving the location and brief incident details.

3. When law enforcement arrives, be polite, remain calm and answer questions but don’t offer opinions about the cause or who might be responsible for the accident.

4. If the vehicle has telematics or dashcam and law enforcement asks to see it, the driver should respectfully ask to wait until the owner arrives to make that decision.

5. Take pictures of the scene and damage to any vehicles, but be respectful of any injuries that may have occurred.

6. Obtain the other driver’s name, phone number, and insurance information and note any passengers they may have had with them. Also, find out how to get an accident report from law enforcement.

• If your damaged vehicle is undrivable, to possibly reduce cost, ask law enforcement if you can remove the unit with your own tow company, but you must have someone in mind beforehand. Towing can be expensive.

• See if the tow company will deliver the vehicle to your shop/yard instead of their storage lot. This can save on storage fees.

• If a loaded tractor-trailer is involved and the load was lost on the road, see if you can do the clean-up yourself, which will reduce clean-up fees.

• Report all accidents, with details, to your insurance agent so that they may assist. Even if you are considering paying any costs yourself, they can help with this decision.

By taking these steps at the time of an accident, you can reduce frustration from a claim and get matters settled more effectively. Be proactive as opposed to reactive.

Eddie Campbell, Agent, FMIC Insurance Company

Photo Credit: FMIC Staff Photographer