Having auto insurance is a great way to be prepared for an auto accident. When shopping for auto insurance, it's important to look at auto insurance rates and quotes and do some comparing. Knowing how to proceed in the event of an auto accident can save you time, money, and headaches, especially if your car is damaged.
Q: What should I do if I've just had an auto accident?
A: Assuming there are no injuries, here's a checklist of how to proceed:
1.Call 911 to report the auto accident. You'll want a copy of a police report for any future claim, especially if the accident was not your fault. If the damage is minor and the other driver wants to negotiate a settlement on the spot, be wary: You could have unseen damage. 3.Write down the other driver's name and insurance information. 4.If you have a camera in your car, get some shots of the damage and general accident scene. 5When you get home, call your auto insurance company to report the accident if there will be a claim on your policy. If the other driver was at fault and you don't live in a "no-fault" state, contact their auto insurance company to start the claims process.
Q: What coverage pays for damage to my car?
A: If you're at fault in an auto accident (whether you've crashed into someone else or into a fence), you'll need collision coverage if you want your repairs covered. Some drivers drop collision coverage when their cars get older because the potential cost of fixing them is more than the value of the cars.
If someone else crashes into you, their liability auto insurance must pay for repairs to your vehicle. This is called a "third-party" claim because you're making a claim on their auto insurance company.
If you live in a "no-fault" state, you always make a claim on your own policy no matter who is at fault.
Q: Do I have to use my auto insurer's body shop for repairs?
A: No, you can never be forced to use a repair shop that your auto insurance company designates. Many auto insurance companies have customer service programs that streamline your claim process by handling paperwork and your rental car from the repair shop and fully guaranteeing the work.
You can never be too prepared when it comes to an auto accident. Auto insurance companies are there to help you sort through the car damage and remove some of the headaches and worries for you. Auto accidents aren't something that we like to think about, but thinking ahead will help you and your auto rates in the long run.
Minggu, 15 Februari 2009
Sabtu, 14 Februari 2009
Benefits of Auto Insurance in Case of Accidents
Nobody in this world in his fair senses would wish an accident upon himself. Having auto insurance in place can take out a significant amount of stress from the whole situation. At least you won't have to worry about the hefty auto repair bills.
Whenever you meet with an accident, the primary matter to focus upon must be the well being of the passengers. Once the passengers are taken care of, you must report the incident to the police, to get further assistance in the matter of claiming the damages.
Thereafter, get in touch with the auto insurance people, who'll send their executive to assess the whole situation and help you to file a claim. There'll be a great number of forms that'll need to be filled, however, if you submit your claim immediately after the accident, the whole procedure can be expedited considerably.
Prior to approaching the auto insurance people, you must do a self-assessment of the true worth of your vehicle, considering its age, model and efficiency. This will help you well in discussing the matter with them and filing an appropriate amount of claim with the auto insurance executive.
In the event that your vehicle has been damaged beyond point of repair, you can claim the true value of the vehicle and not the amount you have got financed on it. Hence, if the vehicle is over financed, you may owe far more than the true worth of the vehicle.
On the contrary, if you'd like to retain the damaged vehicle and prefer to get it repaired, you can do that as well.
It is recommended that you don't admit any fault while filing any auto insurance claims since you may not be at fault in the eyes of the law, in spite of your thinking otherwise. In all likelihood, the auto insurance company will deploy a specialized claims representative to carry out a comprehensive investigation into your claim.
Please note that you must have your auto insurance policy number handy while filing your claim. In case the other party too is insured, their name, phone numbers and residential addresses may also be required. Also mention their vehicles make, year and license plate number. Adding the names of any witnesses with their signature will make your case even stronger.
Whenever you meet with an accident, the primary matter to focus upon must be the well being of the passengers. Once the passengers are taken care of, you must report the incident to the police, to get further assistance in the matter of claiming the damages.
Thereafter, get in touch with the auto insurance people, who'll send their executive to assess the whole situation and help you to file a claim. There'll be a great number of forms that'll need to be filled, however, if you submit your claim immediately after the accident, the whole procedure can be expedited considerably.
Prior to approaching the auto insurance people, you must do a self-assessment of the true worth of your vehicle, considering its age, model and efficiency. This will help you well in discussing the matter with them and filing an appropriate amount of claim with the auto insurance executive.
In the event that your vehicle has been damaged beyond point of repair, you can claim the true value of the vehicle and not the amount you have got financed on it. Hence, if the vehicle is over financed, you may owe far more than the true worth of the vehicle.
On the contrary, if you'd like to retain the damaged vehicle and prefer to get it repaired, you can do that as well.
It is recommended that you don't admit any fault while filing any auto insurance claims since you may not be at fault in the eyes of the law, in spite of your thinking otherwise. In all likelihood, the auto insurance company will deploy a specialized claims representative to carry out a comprehensive investigation into your claim.
Please note that you must have your auto insurance policy number handy while filing your claim. In case the other party too is insured, their name, phone numbers and residential addresses may also be required. Also mention their vehicles make, year and license plate number. Adding the names of any witnesses with their signature will make your case even stronger.
Jumat, 13 Februari 2009
Classic Auto Insurance
You have probably invested a lot of time,money and effort in your classic car, but have you invested in proper classic auto insurance?
When it comes to classic auto insurance, the underwriting is different from that used when insuring your more usual family car. If you want to protect your classic auto investment then it is vitally important that you insure with an insurance company that specializes in classic auto insurance.
Firstly, garaging is important. Most insurance companies will insist that your classic auto is kept in a locked garage or parking area when it is not being driven. Also it has been known for some insurers to deny a claim when the vehicle has been left unattended in a car park or parking lot. Parking in the hotel's lot may void any claims.
Secondly, most specialist classic auto insurers offer a choice of valuation methods, the most common being -
a)The Agreed Valuation Method. Here both the insurer and the insured agree a fair market value for the vehicle that is reviewed each year upon policy renewal. This is considered to be the fairest valuation method, but remember that unlike the usual family vehicle, classic cars can increase in value. b) The Actual Cash Value Method. With this method, the insurer will only pay out the current market value for the car. The problem with this is that the current market value means the original price of the car when it was brand new less depreciation. Today after depreciation the market value used by insurers would be (again for the sake of argument) $300 and this is all you would get if you made a claim.
c)The Stated Amount Method. Once again this method does not take into account the true value of your classic auto and so should be avoided.
Thirdly, how you use your classic auto can have a great bearing on your insurance. A standard classic auto insurance policy may only cover you whilst driving to and from classic auto shows. It's a sad fact of life that insurance companies will do their utmost to avoid paying out on claims so it is in your interest to make sure that have a cast iron policy. When looking for quotes always read the terms and conditions before handing over your cash. If you have or are thinking of getting a classic auto then don't forget to protect yourself if the worst should happen.
When it comes to classic auto insurance, the underwriting is different from that used when insuring your more usual family car. If you want to protect your classic auto investment then it is vitally important that you insure with an insurance company that specializes in classic auto insurance.
Firstly, garaging is important. Most insurance companies will insist that your classic auto is kept in a locked garage or parking area when it is not being driven. Also it has been known for some insurers to deny a claim when the vehicle has been left unattended in a car park or parking lot. Parking in the hotel's lot may void any claims.
Secondly, most specialist classic auto insurers offer a choice of valuation methods, the most common being -
a)The Agreed Valuation Method. Here both the insurer and the insured agree a fair market value for the vehicle that is reviewed each year upon policy renewal. This is considered to be the fairest valuation method, but remember that unlike the usual family vehicle, classic cars can increase in value. b) The Actual Cash Value Method. With this method, the insurer will only pay out the current market value for the car. The problem with this is that the current market value means the original price of the car when it was brand new less depreciation. Today after depreciation the market value used by insurers would be (again for the sake of argument) $300 and this is all you would get if you made a claim.
c)The Stated Amount Method. Once again this method does not take into account the true value of your classic auto and so should be avoided.
Thirdly, how you use your classic auto can have a great bearing on your insurance. A standard classic auto insurance policy may only cover you whilst driving to and from classic auto shows. It's a sad fact of life that insurance companies will do their utmost to avoid paying out on claims so it is in your interest to make sure that have a cast iron policy. When looking for quotes always read the terms and conditions before handing over your cash. If you have or are thinking of getting a classic auto then don't forget to protect yourself if the worst should happen.
Kamis, 12 Februari 2009
Some Basic Insurance Tips That Could Uplift You
I have considerable experiences in dealing with different type of insurance claims. I think, the basic procedures in dealing with insurance claims and processing the same are somewhat the same in U.S.A as well as other parts of developed & developing countries. Sometimes insurance companies pretend that they are much customer-friendly, fast & fair in dealing with claims, service-oriented, dedicated, particularly at the time of selling their insurance policies until you pay the premium on regular basis.
I should say, they exploit every opportunity in turning your claim down.
After all they are here in the business for gaining some profit out of extending services to the policy holder. Nobody ever deny that insurance industry has got some social responsibilities in rendering some noble services to people in distress and their financial sufferings just after the mischances that wipe the valuables and peace out of their life.
1. Before buying a insurance policy, may it be car insurance or homeowner insurance or health insurance or life insurance or travel insurance, always read carefully some important documents such as proposal form with terms & conditions. Make sure you understand some basic terms like policy excess or deductible, exclusion, limitations etc. and what sort of risks or perils (more specific risk) you are going to get.
2. Have a review of all the materials you preserve and talk to company representative. Ask for any clarification you may have regarding deductibles, exclusions(some perils are always out of the scope of policy coverages), insurable interest(legal ownership), warranty, important terms & conditions, extra premiums for additional coverages that are basically not covered, any discount that you deserve and make sure you have proper representation in the proposal form so that your insurance company never ever get any scope of repudiating or turning down any of your future claim just because of flaw in your proposal form.
3. Preserve all important documents such as bills,receipts,doctor’s prescriptions, reports, photographs of properties, copies of correspondence with insurance company(if any) and make duplicate copies of those.
4. If possible, make an inventory of all insurable contents and properties with still photography and videotape (in case of homeowner insurance policy)
I should say, they exploit every opportunity in turning your claim down.
After all they are here in the business for gaining some profit out of extending services to the policy holder. Nobody ever deny that insurance industry has got some social responsibilities in rendering some noble services to people in distress and their financial sufferings just after the mischances that wipe the valuables and peace out of their life.
1. Before buying a insurance policy, may it be car insurance or homeowner insurance or health insurance or life insurance or travel insurance, always read carefully some important documents such as proposal form with terms & conditions. Make sure you understand some basic terms like policy excess or deductible, exclusion, limitations etc. and what sort of risks or perils (more specific risk) you are going to get.
2. Have a review of all the materials you preserve and talk to company representative. Ask for any clarification you may have regarding deductibles, exclusions(some perils are always out of the scope of policy coverages), insurable interest(legal ownership), warranty, important terms & conditions, extra premiums for additional coverages that are basically not covered, any discount that you deserve and make sure you have proper representation in the proposal form so that your insurance company never ever get any scope of repudiating or turning down any of your future claim just because of flaw in your proposal form.
3. Preserve all important documents such as bills,receipts,doctor’s prescriptions, reports, photographs of properties, copies of correspondence with insurance company(if any) and make duplicate copies of those.
4. If possible, make an inventory of all insurable contents and properties with still photography and videotape (in case of homeowner insurance policy)
Rabu, 11 Februari 2009
Insurance - How Much Is Too Much?
It seems that insurance can be bought for just about every conceivable device or potential eventuality. Other famous celebrity insurance policies include Marlene Dietrich's $1 million insurance of her voice, Dolly Parton's $600,000 breast insurance and Ken Dodd's $4 million cover for his teeth! You can expect to face heavy fines, and even imprisonment if you are caught driving without car insurance. Furthermore, car insurance is required when it comes to taxing your vehicle.
While home insurance isn't a legal requirement, many mortgage lenders will insist that you have buildings insurance before they will consider any home loan. Home insurance is available as two separate products - buildings insurance and contents insurance and each can be bought separately, although most insurers now offer discounts when both are bought together. As the name implies, buildings insurance protects the structural elements of your home, while contents insurance protects your possessions.
If you travel regularly, then perhaps travel insurance may be a consideration. Furthermore, travel insurance can help alleviate the loss of your luggage, flight delays or should you lose your currency or credit cards. There are many travel insurance packages available, from family cover on a single trip to annual policies covering unlimited journeys, while specialist policies are also available for things not covered within normal agreements, such as ski equipment.
A life insurance policy can provide for those eventualities by paying out a lump sum, which can help stave off any financial hardship. Life insurance is often linked to a mortgage as this is normally the main expense that a family will have to deal with, and although singletons and couples without children might not need life insurance, it should be considered by families with children.
If you have pets, then pet insurance might be an idea. Given the fact that veterinary treatment can cost more than £1000 to mend a dog's broken leg, pet insurance can help alleviate the financial burden associated with treating sick or injured family pets.
In light of the huge waiting lists for treatment, there is now a market for private medical insurance which can be used to circumvent the NHS queues and obtain treatment quicker; but private medical insurance can be costly, and not every ailment is covered.
Furthermore, the vast majority of items are likely to be covered by a good home insurance policy anyway.
While home insurance isn't a legal requirement, many mortgage lenders will insist that you have buildings insurance before they will consider any home loan. Home insurance is available as two separate products - buildings insurance and contents insurance and each can be bought separately, although most insurers now offer discounts when both are bought together. As the name implies, buildings insurance protects the structural elements of your home, while contents insurance protects your possessions.
If you travel regularly, then perhaps travel insurance may be a consideration. Furthermore, travel insurance can help alleviate the loss of your luggage, flight delays or should you lose your currency or credit cards. There are many travel insurance packages available, from family cover on a single trip to annual policies covering unlimited journeys, while specialist policies are also available for things not covered within normal agreements, such as ski equipment.
A life insurance policy can provide for those eventualities by paying out a lump sum, which can help stave off any financial hardship. Life insurance is often linked to a mortgage as this is normally the main expense that a family will have to deal with, and although singletons and couples without children might not need life insurance, it should be considered by families with children.
If you have pets, then pet insurance might be an idea. Given the fact that veterinary treatment can cost more than £1000 to mend a dog's broken leg, pet insurance can help alleviate the financial burden associated with treating sick or injured family pets.
In light of the huge waiting lists for treatment, there is now a market for private medical insurance which can be used to circumvent the NHS queues and obtain treatment quicker; but private medical insurance can be costly, and not every ailment is covered.
Furthermore, the vast majority of items are likely to be covered by a good home insurance policy anyway.
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