Imagine you get into a car accident. No one is injured, but your car is damaged badly. While dealing with the stress of a crash and wrecked vehicle, you now need to get in touch with your car insurance company to get your ride fixed and talk to a claims adjuster once you file a claim.
From time to time, auto insurance claims adjusters have gotten the reputation of being tough to deal with, which is why you need to have some knowledge of how you should negotiate your claim after an accident.
When you or a family member gets into an automobile accident and file a claim with your insurance company, you will need to deal with a claims adjuster. This is a representative from your insurance provider who is there to assess the damage to your vehicle after a crash. In short, a claims adjuster estimates how much it will be to fix your car. As a driver, you want to make sure the adjuster submits a report to the company that will cover the costs of all repairs you need to get back on the road.
Most of the time, these adjusters are trying to determine the bare minimum cost of getting your vehicle fixed. However, in some cases, an adjuster will try to downplay the overall damage - whether to a person or vehicle - in order to submit a lower-priced claim to the company. Since you don't want to pay out of pocket to have the repairs done, you will need to do a little negotiating in order to get the claim submission up enough to cover these expenses.
Before you even speak with a claims adjuster, make sure you have all your necessary paperwork ready, including your medical and auto repair bills and the total sum of money you may have already spent out of pocket on your vehicle. When you do start a conversation with an adjuster, don't settle on an agreement right away and try not to let them rush you. The adjuster most likely wants to settle as soon as possible, but you need to ensure you get reimbursed for as much as you can. Do not be intimidated when it comes time to discuss expenses and always ask for a little more than you truly want. That way, you will have some room to come to an agreed price.
After getting into a car accident, the last thing you want to worry about is negotiating with your auto insurance company. The aftermath of a car crash shouldn't be as traumatic as the accident itself, which is why you should seek out a car insurance provider with proven quality customer service. While you might be able to save money by skimping on your policy and getting the bare minimum, it could mean the service you receive won't be so great - especially when you really need help. Before you purchase a car insurance policy, take time to compare prices, services and customer reviews so you know what you're paying for.
Insurance shopping simplified
Insurance shopping simplified
