Insurance 101: How to Easily File a Claim

by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info | 4 comments

You slow down for the yellow light but the car behind you does not. Bam! It wasn’t your fault but now you have to get your car fixed. Or maybe a storm knocks out a window in your house. Now you need to get it repaired.

Accidents happen. Washing machines overflow; things are stolen or vandalized. That’s why you have insurance. Your policy protects your vehicle, your home, and your belongings, taking some of the financial stress away to help you repair and replace those necessary items. Here’s an overview of the insurance claims process so that you can do it easily.

When to File a Claim

Every policy has a deductible, an amount that you are required to pay out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in. The general rule is to file a claim when the payout is greater than the deductible and you cannot cover it on your own. You also should file a claim whenever someone is injured and when it’s not clear who is at fault. That way, the insurance companies can get together and determine the outcome.

How to File a Claim

Let’s say you were in a car accident. Here are the steps to take to file a claim. (You also can refer to the back of your California Casualty insurance card. It lists the steps to follow in the event of a loss.)

Step 1: Call the police if needed.

• • Call 9-1-1 if anyone is injured or you suspect drugs or alcohol are involved.
  • Call the non-emergency police number to report the accident. An officer may show up and take a police report. While you don’t necessarily need one, it will make the claims process easier. If the police are not needed, or available, you may file an accident report online, by mail, or at the police station.

Step 2: Get the other driver’s information.

• • You feel bad so it may be tempting to say the accident was your fault. Whether or not it was, don’t take the blame. Don’t apologize.
  • Exchange information. Get the other driver’s name. Take a photo of the other driver’s license, insurance card, and registration. Alternatively, you can write down the information. Make sure you have the year, make, model, license plate number, and color of the other car.

Step 3: Write down facts and take photos. Look for witnesses.

• • Take photos of the scene, license plates, traffic signs, and anything else that may help you to remember the details of the accident.
  • Include the direction the cars were traveling, your speed, weather, road conditions, and what happened.
  • Use your phone to make detailed notes. 
  • There may be witnesses. Look around and ask for the contact information of those individuals. They may later be contacted by your insurance company or police, if needed, to support your rendition of the accident.

Step 4: Call your insurance company.

• • Report the accident. The adjuster will ask questions. Answer them honestly and thoroughly. If you don’t know the answer, say so. 
  • Your adjuster will share the process of getting your car repaired. They will send you paperwork to fill out. 
  • Let them know if there is a police report.
  • Don’t sign anything from the other person’s insurance company. Let your insurer take the lead.

Step 5: File your claim.

• • Most insurance companies allow you to file your claim online. That means you’ll fill out the necessary paperwork online or by email.
  • To complete the filing of your claim, you’ll need to fill out the forms that you are sent.
  • You may have to get a repair estimate and include that information.
  • Then, you’ll wait for approval. Once the repair is authorized, you’ll be able to proceed with the repairs. Either you or the repair shop will receive payment from the insurance company, so check with your adjuster.

The Difference with a Homeowner’s Claim

A homeowner’s, renter’s or personal property claim follows a similar process. The main difference is that you need to provide a Proof of Loss statement. That’s a list of items that were damaged or stolen and how much it costs to replace them.

Can you wait to file a claim?

You should not wait. Your insurance contract specifies your specific Duties After Loss. You must give prompt notice to the insurer; notify the police in case of loss by theft; protect the property from further damage, prepare an inventory of damaged personal property; and cooperate with the investigation. 

So, the next time that life throws a wrench into your plans, remember that you have insurance. The claims process is an easy way to get the help you need.

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.

Is It Important to Keep a Copy of My Insurance Policy?

by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

If you’ve ever sat down to read a declaration page on an insurance policy, you know there’s a lot that goes into the documentation. This information is clearly important, but there’s a lot of paperwork. Do you really need to keep it all, and for how long?

Here’s a quick reference guide for your insurance paperwork, including how to organize it, store it, and for how long.

Insurance Policy

Whether you have home insurance, an auto policy, a renter’s policy, or another type of coverage, you will be issued a document that spells out the insurance coverage. This main policy document is multiple pages. It includes all the details of your policy, including coverages and limits, discounts, and endorsements. It also is a resource with definitions of insurance terms and explanations of the claims process. If you are bundling your coverages, such as with home and auto, you will have an insurance policy document for each.

You need to know the coverage that you have, but you don’t necessarily need a hard copy of your policy document. If your insurer offers digital access on their website, you can toss the paper version. Either way, you will want to keep a hard copy of the declarations page.

Certificate of Insurance (COI)

This document is the summary of your coverage. Its format is easy to scan and provides a quick look at your coverage details. It’s especially useful to share with lenders who require proof of insurance if you are financing your home or car.

Keep a copy of your certificate of insurance for as long as the policy is active. It is your proof of insurance. When you renew your policy, you can throw out the old COI.

Insurance Claims Documents

Accidents happen, and things get damaged and stolen. You may file a claim with your insurance company when this happens. If your claim is for an auto policy, you will get an accident report. You also may have medical reports and bills. If your claim is for home damage or theft, you will have an inventory of damage. You also will have repair bills, receipts, and other paperwork. If it’s a third-party claim, where you caused injury or loss to another person, you will receive documentation as well.

Claims can sometimes take years, especially if medical bills are involved. As long as your claim is open, keep all of the paperwork. Only throw it out after you have received the payment.

Vehicle Insurance Card

Your auto insurance card fits in your wallet or glove compartment, which is where it should be kept. That way, you have a hard copy even if you have access to a digital version. Hard copies are useful in case you are pulled over by law enforcement or need to exchange the information with another driver in the event of an accident.

Keep the hard copy of your auto insurance card as long as your policy is active. You may dispose of it when the policy renews and you receive a new card.

Billing Statements

You will receive regular billing statements from your insurer, usually monthly. These may be by mail or online.

Keep your billing statements for tax purposes if you have a home business or you use your car for business purposes. If you’re audited by the IRS, you may need to show your bills for the last 7 years.

How to Store Documents

If you’re keeping paper copies of documents, you want to make sure that they remain in good, readable condition. Here are some recommendations to keep them that way:

• • Never store your important papers in a basement in case of flooding.
  • Keep your documents in a safe container in a climate-controlled space to reduce the possibility of mold and fading.
  • Store papers in a waterproof and fire-resistant container. Consider a home lock box or safe or a filing cabinet.
  • Consider digital storage as well, as a backup. You can store copies of papers on a flash drive. For a small fee, you also can store them in Dropbox and on iCloud and other services.

Pro Tip: Use plastic page sleeves for your documents for added protection. You can slide your documents into the sleeves and then file them in a binder or box.

How to Dispose of Documents

The general rule is that once a policy is done, you don’t need to keep the paperwork. (See the exceptions for claims documents and billing statements above.) But your insurance documents have personal information that could lead to identity theft if not disposed of safely.

• • Always shred any old papers. Use a crosscut shredder that cuts in two directions to produce confetti.
  • A small home shredder will work or you may find a free shredding event in your community.
  • Local banks and other companies also may shred your papers for a fee.
  • Remember to permanently delete old digital copies as well.

Going Paperless

Did you know, you can access your account online with California Casualty? Once you’ve signed up, you will have quick access to your policy(ies) at any time and from anywhere. You simply “Sign In” in the same right-hand corner where you created your account initially. And easy, secure access to this policy portal gives you the flexibility to:

• • Download/Print ID Cards
  • View/Download Your Declaration Pages
  • Pay Your Bill Online
  • Make Some Changes to Your Policy (Manage Drivers, Manage Vehicles, Manage Lienholders/Mortgagee)
  • Contact Customer Service for Additional Support
  • File a Claim
  • Create/Save a New Auto Quote, etc.

Click here to learn more.

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.