June 2, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim: Five Steps

FILING AN AUTO INSURANCE CLAIM

An auto accident is a terrible experience, but it’s important to gather all the necessary information in order to be able file your claim. Here are five steps to follow to make the claims process easier and quicker.

Filing An Auto Insurance Claim: Podcast
Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Filing an Auto Insurance Claim: Five Steps” iihs.org website. Accessed June 2, 2014. http://www2.iii.org/video/podcast-filing-an-auto-insurance-claim.html

June 2, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Reducing Risks to Your Business Vehicles

MANAGING RISK

Whether you own or lease a single business car or an entire fleet of commercial vehicles, you’ll need to purchase commercial auto insurance. Your insurance professional can help you weigh your risks and evaluate coverage options.

But even with insurance in place, you’ll want to take steps to prevent accidents and protect your employees and vehicles. Your business can reduce the chance of an accident by establishing and enforcing the following practices and policies.

Hard-and-Fast Driving Rules

When it comes to the safety of employees and the protection of your vehicles, you should set certain firm driving rules that must be followed at all times, including:

Mandatory Seat Belt Use—Nearly every state has a seat belt law. Seat belt use helps prevent deaths and limit the severity of injuries in vehicle accidents. There is no reasonable excuse for not using a seat belt.
Zero Tolerance for Intoxicants—Even one alcoholic beverage can impair a driver’s reaction time. Employees should never drink or use other intoxicants prior to using business vehicles.
No Cell Phone Use—Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents, and cell phone use while driving is banned in some states. Prohibit employees from taking calls or texting while driving.

Vehicle Use Guidelines

Other rules may be more flexible, but you should consider instituting policies and adhering to the following practices yourself as appropriate:

Limit Non-Business Use of Vehicles—While some employees use the same car for work and personal use, generally limit business vehicle use to work-related travel.
Slow Down—Scheduling should allow sufficient travel time between meetings and assignments. Do not create such a frantic pace of work that employees are encouraged to speed. In addition to reducing the risk of accidents, driving the speed limit also will help control fuel costs.
Lock and Secure Vehicles—Employees should always lock vehicles when on the job. Whenever possible, vehicles should be parked in secure, well-lighted areas.

Employee-Focused Practices to Reduce Vehicle Risk

Know Your Employees—Before hiring employees to drive company vehicles, check their driving record with the motor vehicle department for past infractions. Limit or ban driving by employees with a history of accidents or moving violations. Employees should also be required to report any accidents they have while not working. In addition, recognize that some personality traits—such as a bad temper—can raise the risk of auto accidents.
Training—Employees who regularly drive work vehicles—or are taking on a new assignment requiring vehicle use—should be provided with drivers training. This course may just be a refresher for some, but it should cover key safety practices such as following distances and proper backing techniques.
Recognize Safe Drivers—For businesses in which driving is central—such as a florist or a moving company—establish a program to recognize and reward safe drivers. You may also want to reward a department or the whole company for accident-free periods.

Responding to an Accident

The above practices and policies can help minimize the risk to your business vehicles, but they cannot entirely prevent accidents from happening. If a business vehicle is involved in an accident, you’ll want to help your employee-driver respond appropriately and proceed with filing an insurance claim. The following practices and steps will help your business and the involved employee recover and get back to work.

Establish Procedures in the Event of an Accident—Employees using company vehicles should be trained what to do if an accident occurs. This includes not leaving the scene of an accident, contacting the police, and collecting information (license plate numbers, contact information, insurance information, etc.) from the affected parties and any witnesses. The accident should also be reported to appropriate personnel at work. Consider using the incident as an opportunity to educate all employees who drive company vehicles about what to do if they are involved in an accident.
Contact Your Insurance Professional and File a Claim with Your Insurance Company—As soon as possible, contact your insurance professional to report the accident and begin the claims filing process. It’s especially important to work immediately with your insurance team if anyone has been injured in the accident. Follow the guidance of your insurer in a timely manner, such as getting estimates for repairs.

Remember too, that auto insurance claims are not limited to accidents. You may also need to file a claim if your vehicle is vandalized, stolen or damaged from an event other than an accident, such as fire or severe weather.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Reducing Risks to Your Business Vehicles” iihs.org website. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.iii.org/article/reducing-risks-to-your-business-vehicles

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

June 2, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Does My Auto Insurance Cover Damage Caused By Potholes?

The good news is, yes, pothole damage is usually covered—providing you have collision coverage. Collision coverage, an optional portion of a standard auto insurance policy, covers damage to a car resulting from a collision with an object (e.g., a pothole, lamp post or guard rail), another car or as the result of flipping over. However, it does not cover wear and tear to a car or its tires due to bad road conditions.Collision coverage is generally sold with a deductible—the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Your collision coverage will reimburse you for the costs of repairing your car, minus the deductible.

Collision insurance is different from comprehensive insurance, which is also an optional coverage. Comprehensive coverage reimburses drivers for theft, vandalism, flooding and damage from fallen objects, such as trees.

A driver who hits another car, or a pedestrian, due to a pothole also will be covered by liability insurance, which is required to drive legally in every U.S. state except New Hampshire. Liability coverage applies to injuries that you, the policyholder or designated driver, cause to someone else.

Facts and Figures

Most motorists carry collision coverage on their vehicles. Indeed, 71 percent of U.S. drivers had collision coverage as of 2011, the most recent year for which the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has data.The NAIC found that 76 percent of all drivers had comprehensive coverage in 2011.

For information on what the typical American policyholder spends on auto insurance, see our Facts & Statistics: Auto Insurance.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Does My Auto Insurance Cover Damage Caused By Potholes?” iihs.org website. Accessed June 2, 2014. http://www.iii.org/articles/does-my-auto-insurance-cover-damage-caused-by-potholes.html

June 2, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

At the Scene of an Accident

No one wants to get into a car crash. But knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives, reduce injuries and make the claims process simpler and easier.

Be Prepared

Keep your registration and auto insurance papers, as well as any relevant medical information for you and your family, in the car.
Make sure you have the right amount of auto coverage to fit your needs.

Immediately After an Accident

Assess the Damage. If possible, pull the vehicle to the side of the road to a safe place to see if anyone is injured, and the extent of the damage to the vehicle.

Call the police or highway patrol, if you are in a serious accident. Let law enforcement know if anyone is hurt and the extent of injuries. The police will notify the nearest medical unit. If the police can’t come to the scene of your car accident, you can head to the nearest police department (or their website) to file an incident report yourself. Having an official report can help in case the other driver decides to sue for damages or medical injuries, or there is more damage done to your car than initially thought. If the police do come to the accident scene, get the officers’ names and badge numbers and ask where you can get a copy of their report.

Collect as much information as possible. Get the names and contact information of everyone involved in the crash, including witnesses. Ask the driver (or drivers if you are involved in a multi-car accident) for their license, car registration and insurance ID card. Get the make and model of the cars involved. Lastly, make note of the location of the accident, time of day and the weather conditions. You can use your smart phone or other device to document this information, as well as the accident itself, but it’s also a good idea to always keep a pad of paper/pen in your glove compartment. It may not be high-tech, but it is an easy way to record important information. When talking to others, keep to the facts. Do not discuss who was at fault, or how much insurance you have, with other drivers

Don’t leave the scene of the accident. If you run into an unattended vehicle, try to find the owner. If you can’t, leave a note containing your name, address and phone number. Record the details of the accident, including the make and model of the car and the address where the accident occurred.

Get the claims process started. Notify your insurance professional as soon as possible—the longer you wait, the harder it will be to remember the details. Many insurance companies now use mobile apps to get the claims process started. These apps allow you to report a claim, check the status, upload photos, check your deductible, schedule an appraisal, reserve a rental car, and request reimbursements for towing and glass claims. Some apps even allow you to notify the insurance adjuster what happened by visually re-creating the events and circumstances of your car accident. When working with your insurance company, make sure that you get the name, title and contact information of everyone you speak with. You will likely also receive claim forms to fill out. Make sure that you do this as soon, and as accurately, as possible. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask the claims adjuster for assistance. Your insurance company wants your claims experience to be as pleasant and efficient as possible.

Finally, keep a file of all of your notes and any claim forms. The more organized you are, the simpler and easier the claims process will be.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “At the Scene of an Accident” iii.org website. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.iii.org/article/scene-accident

June 2, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Knowing What To Do After An Auto Accident Saves Lives

No one likes to think that they may be involved in an auto accident, but knowing what to do after a crash can save lives, reduce injuries and make the entire claims process much easier, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

There are over 6.3 million auto crashes each year, resulting in an injury every 11 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“If you are in an auto accident, there are four things to remember to do,” says Jeanne M. Salvatore, consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. “Stop your car, see if anyone is hurt, assess the damage and then get as much information as possible about the accident.”

At the scene of an accident, the I.I.I. recommends that:

Find out if anyone is injured. Call the police or highway patrol and let them know how many people were hurt and the extent of their injuries. The police will then notify the nearest medical unit. Avoid moving a severely injured person, unless they are in danger of getting hit by traffic. Try to calm the person and keep them warm by covering them with a blanket or jacket until help arrives.
Protect the accident scene. Take reasonable steps to protect your car from further damage by setting up flares, getting the car off the road and calling a tow truck.
Collect as much information as possible. Everyone should keep a pad of paper and a pencil in the glove department of their car. You may also want to keep a disposable camera to take pictures of any damage done to the vehicles. Make sure you get the following information:- Names, addresses and phone numbers of all drivers and passengers involved in the accident, license plate numbers, make and model of each car, driver’s license numbers and insurance information.
– Names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses.

– Names, badge numbers and contact information of police, highway patrol or other emergency personnel at the scene. Remember to ask where you can obtain a copy of the police report. You will need it when filing a claim.

– Make note of the date, time, location and other relevant information such as driving conditions. Details can sometimes be forgotten weeks or months later, so it is important to jot them down.

If there is anything about the accident that does not feel right, mention it to the investigating police officer and let your insurance company know. Some auto accidents have been orchestrated by insurance fraud criminals.

“If you feel that the accident was a set-up, don’t confront the other driver or passengers,” says Salvatore. “They can be dangerous people. Instead, tell law enforcement or your insurance company about your suspicions and let them investigate the situation.”

The National Insurance Crime bureau has information on staged accidents on its website at www.nicb.org. If you suspect insurance fraud, you can also call their toll free number, 1-800-TEL-NICB

“If you get in accident with another driver or pedestrian, let your insurance company know about the incident,” points out Salvatore. “Even someone who appears to be unharmed may sue you. For your insurer to defend you in court, they need to know about the accident.”

To file an auto insurance claim, the I.I.I. suggests:

Get in touch with your insurer as soon as possible, regardless of who is at fault.
Find out what forms or documents you will need to support your claim. In most cases, your insurer will require you to fill out a “proof of claim” form. If there is a police report, provide this to your insurer. Many insurers have the technology that allows you to monitor the progress of your claim on their website.
When speaking with your insurer, get the names and phone numbers of everyone you speak with throughout the claims process and keep copies of any bills or documents you supply to your insurer.
Ask your agent or company representative the following questions:- Does my policy contain a time limit for filing claims and submitting bills?
– Is there a time limit for resolving claims disputes?

– If I need to submit additional information, what is the cutoff point?

– Do I need to get repair estimates for the damages to my car?

– Will my policy pay for a rental car while my car is being repaired? If so, how much will I be reimbursed and are there any time constraints?

“Each state has its own laws governing the claims process and you have rights and obligations under these laws,” says Salvatore.

If you have any questions regarding your claim, contact your insurance agent or company representative.

For a link to your state insurance department or more information on filing an auto insurance claim, you can access the I.I.I.’s website at www.iii.org

The I.I.I. is a non-profit, communications organization supported by the property/casualty insurance business.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Knowing What To Do After An Auto Accident Saves Lives & Makes Filing A Claim Easier; The I.I.I. Offers Tips to Help Navigate the Claims Process” iihs.org website. Accessed June 2, 2014. http://www.iii.org/media/updates/archive/press.740304/?printerfriendly=yes

June 2, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

IN: 5 Steps To Take At The Scene Of An Accident

Dear Valued Customer,

Knowing what to do after an auto accident can save lives and make filing a claim easier. In this issue of “——————” we focus on what to do at the scene of an accident.

Find out about the five steps you should take to ensure you are safe and secure. Learn the five steps to file an auto insurance claim. Reduce risks to your business vehicles. This and much more is provided here for your information.We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,