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New drivers as well as experienced ones may eventually have an automobile accident and find themselves in the situation where they need to file an auto insurance claim. Fortunately the large majority of claims do not involve personal injury but involve only damage to the vehicle. Auto insurance is required in most states and minimum coverage may not be enough in today's litigious environment. Insurance experts now advise that you obtain a level of coverage above the minimum, and perhaps even consider uninsured motorist coverage. In states with no-fault insurance laws, there may be other rules in effect that dictate how your policy works.

Placing A Claim

For damage to a vehicle that is clearly under the value of the insurance deductible, honest people will work with each other to agree on paying for the damage to their vehicles based on good faith. One person admits fault and agrees to pay for the damage to the other car's owner. The owner of the damaged car gets one or more estimates and presents the estimates to the driver at fault. An agreement is made for the amount of compensation. In today's environment, where lawsuits can be filed for less than valid reasons, the best route to take in anything but the most straight forward circumstances is to file an insurance claim.

Police Reports

In circumstances where an insurance claim is called for, it will be necessary to gather as much documentation as possible. Of primary importance is the filing of a police report. Regardless of the severity of the damage, insist on a police accident report, or at least an incident report to provide the insurer with an unbiased accounting of the event. This is especially true if someone is injured, or there is a debate to ascertain who is at fault. Gather information from witnesses to provide another unbiased source of information.

Deciding Who Is At Fault

Everybody worries about their rates going up if they file an auto insurance claim. If you are not at fault, your insurance cannot raise your rates. In cases where both parties are partially culpable, arbitration can be initiated to determine the percent of fault. Regardless of who is at fault, your own auto insurance carrier will be more helpful getting the repairs done. For this reason, be sure to file a claim with your own carrier. Prepare to be contacted by the other person's carrier by writing down al the details of the accident that you can remember. The very act of writing down what you remember will help keep the events clearer more consistent for you to recount in any future conversations you may have.

Negotiating A Successful Resolution

Happily, most people you meet in life are just like you, honest and sincere, living their lives with integrity. Most automobile insurance companies are honest and will perform their function of indemnifying any claim with fairness and accuracy. If you have any difficulty reaching an agreement with an insurance carrier or the individual involved with you in an auto accident, a lawsuit can be an avenue of last resort. Always expensive but not always rewarding, lawsuits require the expenditure of money, energy, and emotion. Any opportunity to settle a dispute without involving attorneys should be taken.

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