If you own an automobile or drive one frequently, one ingredient of your financial arsenal against unforeseen events such as accidents is auto insurance. If you are ever in an accident, in an ideal world, all you would have to do is sit down and wait for the insurance company to settle your claims. However, we do not live in an ideal world. Even if your insurance provider is noted for exemplary service, there are several things that you should do to speed the process along and ensure timely collection from your insurance company.

First of all, it is important for you to know the scope and limitations of your coverage. This is to avoid expending unnecessary time and effort on details, only to find that you are not entitled to the compensation you are seeking. Read your insurance policy and clarify any questions you may have with your insurance agent.

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If you are ever in an accident, make sure to contact your auto insurance company as soon as possible. Provide them with as much details of the accident as you are able, such as the police report, pictures, and eyewitness accounts. Provide them with documentation of any injuries that you sustained in the accident as well. Also, make sure to take note of the date and time of your conversations with your insurance company’s agents – get their names and contact numbers too. If push comes to shove, you will be able to show proof that you cooperated with your provider and gave them all the information they needed.

Experts also recommend that you get an appraisal from a car repair shop of your choice of how much it would cost to repair your damaged car. While your insurance company may provide its own appraisal or recommend a shop to do the appraisal for them, they can in now way force you to go with their recommendation. To ensure a fair damage appraisal, compare the one done by your chosen shop with that of the insurance company’s shop.

Writing a letter to your insurance provider detailing your expectations and rights, as well as their obligation to compensate you in accordance with your policy limits and your contract with them is also recommended by the experts. If ever you are uncertain about any step in the claims settlement – such as waivers or releases that need to be signed – it would be best to consult with legal counsel before taking action.

If you are a good policyholder who has had no problem making premium payments and who has had a generally good relationship with your provider, the claims settlement process would usually be clear sailing. But doing your part after the accident surely wouldn’t hurt and would only help ensure timely collection from your insurance company.

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