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Handling Your Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Claims With
Your Own Insurance Company
By:Dan Baldyga
This “How
To” article is crucial, up-to-date information concerning
what to do if your insurance company is giving you a hard time (regarding
your own motor vehicle accident claim with them) and you’re
positive it’s “Legit”. If there’s some problems
with whatever position they’ve taken regarding your Property
Damage Loss (or any other coverage-questions they may be ducking/stalling/ignoring
and/or disputing) you don’t have to sit back and take it!
You DO have options to settle your dispute
and you should proceed as follows:
#1. FIRST, LET YOUR AGENT KNOW YOU’RE
UNHAPPY: Ask them to go to bat for you. If they sit on their butt
(afraid or “too busy” to get “involved”
with your “problem”) find out the name and phone number
or your insurance companies nearest Claims Department. Contact them
and ask for help. (Never forget, you’re their insured, your
premium’s pay their salary). If the person you’re talking
to attempts to handle your problem with uncaring indifference, just
like your agent has, than find and talk to that individual’s
boss - - The Vice President of Claims and/or whomever.
#2. BE PREPARED TO SUPPORT YOUR CASE: Have
ready all documents, including your auto
insurance policy, plus a covering letter (to snail mail to that
person your finally talking to) proving your point and explaining
why you’re not satisfied. (Send it to them PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
- - with a signed “Return Receipt” requested).
#4. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL INSURANCE DEPARTMENT:
If you’ve followed your insurance company’s rules for
resolving a dispute, and you’re still not satisfied, your
own Local Insurance Department can help you. You can reach them
by phone, or mail, or often online.
WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU: Many insurance
departments offer on-the-phone assistance to help resolve the “Problem”
without requiring you to file a formal “Written Complaint“.
Most post their complaint forms on their Web sites, allowing you
to print out the document, complete it at home, and mail it to them.
(If they don’t have a web site ask that they snail mail their
“Written Complaint” form right out to you) !
After you provide them with all the necessary
information (including your auto insurance
policy or claim number and supporting documentation) they will notify
the insurance company (or agent) you’re complaining about.
The company (or agent) is then required to respond to the department
within a certain amount of time, usually between 10 to 30 days,
depending upon the area where you live.
Upon receiving a reply, Insurance Department
officials will dig deeper, trying to determine what can and should
be done. This process usually takes about 30 days.
If the Insurance Department decides against
the agent or the insurance company (which is clearly stated - -
and one both your insurance company and your agent know to be a
fact of their business life they‘d prefer not to get hung
up on - - nor be forced to deal with) the Insurance Department has
the power to levy a variety of penalties, ranging from a fine to
actually revoking the license of the agent or company. (When it
comes down to the nitty-gritty, these departments have all the power
they need to penalize companies that are deliberately ducking or
dragging their feet).
After reading the above, you may want to
consider hiring an attorney to represent you because it can get
complicated! If you do, find one who specializes in Auto Insurance.
Attorney’s work either at an hourly rate or on a “Contingency-Fee
Basis“, depending on the type of case. If you decide to go
that route be sure to get your lawyer’s “Fee Structure”
in writing. And (to remain current on the progress of your claim)
insist that you receive copies of all correspondence. PLUS: Be sure
your lawyer knows that he or she must have your agreement - - before
committing to any settlement!
Dan Baldyga’s third and latest book
AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And
Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet at http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com
or http://www.caraccidentclaims.com. This book reveals “How
To” successfully handle your motor vehicle claim, so you won’t
be taken advantage of. It also goes into detail regarding the revolutionary
BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula).
THE BASE FORMULA explains how to determine the value of the “Pain
and Suffering” you endured - - because of your personal injury.
DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for
background information. Its only purpose is to help people understand
the motor vehicle accident claim process. Dan Baldyga nor insurancesalesman.com
make no guarantee of any kind whatsoever, NOR do they purport to
engage in rendering any professional or legal service, NOR to substitute
for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the
like. Where such professional help is desired IT IS THE INDIVIDUALS
RESPONSIBILITY to obtain it.
Copyright (c) 2004 By Daniel G. Baldyga.
All Rights Reserved
You can find more Auto
Insurance Information here
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