How to Respond to Common Insurance Gaps After a Crash
You do not need to go through a car accident to know how stressful it can be. Not just physically, but mentally, too. Suddenly, it seems as if your world has completely turned upside-down and you’re practically forced to tackle so many things, starting from the injuries you sustained, all kinds of bills (medical and the ones related to your vehicle), time away from your job, etc.
All of this can be extremely overwhelming, to say the least. Does it end here? Unfortunately, no! There’s another hurdle on this journey, and it comes in the form of insurance companies that are always looking for ways to increase their profits.
One of their goals in these instances is to pay out as little as possible, which is definitely something you should permit. Navigating post-accident situations can be intimidating to a lot of people, but that’s why this article is here. It’s going to provide you with some guidelines that will help you effectively deal with the insurers.
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Panicking Doesn’t Lead Anywhere!
Most people in these types of situations immediately start panicking. Even though it’s completely understandable if you feel very frustrated and stressed out, that’s not going to help you make any progress.
For starters, you need to evaluate the nature of the gap. What’s the biggest issue? Are you dealing with a missing coverage type? Is the policy limit very low? Or is anything else causing you to panic?
This is the first step that you must take that help you figure out the next steps. Another thing that would be wise to do is to contact your insurance agent as soon as you can to see if your claim was really denied or if there’s still enough time to fix things.
Misunderstandings are generally very common, and different things can easily be overlooked, but that doesn’t mean that they cannot be resolved. On the other hand, if the gap truly exists, then it’s time to explore other options that will help you get the compensation you deserve, depending on the circumstances, such as who was the culprit, etc.
What To Do If The At-Fault Driver Isn’t Insured?
This situation may not be as common as some others (when it comes to this); however, since it still happens to a lot of people in these situations, it’s definitely worth mentioning. A lot of people do not have the slightest idea what they are supposed to do when an at-fault driver is not insured, which makes them feel even more stuck. But does it really mean nothing can be done?
Of course, it doesn’t. For starters, you should talk to your insurance agent to see whether your insurance policy includes uninsured motorist coverage. This policy may just help you with your damages.
Bear in mind that in the vast majority of states, insurance companies are practically obligated to offer it. Normally, this type of coverage doesn’t surpass the amount of the standard liability coverage.
For example, if you’ve got $80,000 in total liability coverage per crash, then you will most likely carry the same amount in uninsured motorist coverage.
Did You Go Through Your Policy?
There are several crucial steps a person must take after a road accident. Aside from contacting the police, and most importantly, making sure that you (and everyone else who has gone through an accident) feel safe and well, another step that mustn’t be forgotten or postponed is to review your policy.
Be sure to do it as soon as you start feeling better. Pay close attention to the coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles. You need to understand which costs are covered by your policy and where you might be held accountable.
During this process, you should focus on things like property damage liability, bodily injury liability, comprehensive coverage, medical bills, and uninsured motorist protection. If there’s anything that puzzles you as far as this is concerned, do not hesitate to contact your insurance company to make things clearer.
Keep in mind that it’s of huge importance to get the grasp of things, because only then will you know what to expect.
Things That You Should Say When Talking To The Insurance Agents After A Collision
When the time comes to talk to the insurers, you need to focus on saying only the most essential things that are associated with the accidents, such as the date, time, and the place it occurred.
If you have the basic information about the third party, like the contact information, name, insurance, and others, then you should provide it as well. If you’ve sustained any injuries (regardless of how serious or mild they are), you also need to mention them, along with the damage that’s been done to your car.
Why is all of this so important? By giving all the aforementioned information, you’ll enable the insurance company to properly assess the entire situation and determine what needs to be done next.
They will probably give you certain guidelines regarding the steps that must be taken during the claims process, so be sure to follow them because only then will you be able to get the desired outcome.
And as mentioned previously, if there’s anything that you’re unsure of, that confuses you, do not be afraid to ask them.
If You’re Dealing With The Medical Bills, Don’t Forget To Mention Them As Well!
If you’ve been injured, then whether you like it or not, you will need to see the doctor to evaluate the injuries and provide you with the right medical treatment, if necessary. In these instances, medical costs can easily add up, and if your insurance includes personal injury protection or medical payments, then these will cover your expenses to a certain extent.
However, once these things are exhausted, you’ll need to contact the insurance company to check if other expenses may be covered, as well. If neither policy can fully cover your medical bills, then you should consider having some sort of financial help while your claim is being processed.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://pixabay.com/photos/accident-crash-tree-automobile-car-2161956/
Dealing with the insurance gaps and insurance companies, in general, can be very nerve-wracking and something that no one wants to go through after a crash, but you need to perceive it as a necessity if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises.
