How Do I File a Claim?
Life does not always go as planned. A truck rear-ends you. The power goes out, and your refrigerator defrosts, flooding your kitchen. A wildfire burns down your home.
These are all frustrating situations that can impact your life for a long time. They can affect you physically, emotionally, and financially. That is why it is important that you have insurance.
Auto and homeowners insurance are two important coverages to have. These types of insurance will protect you from financial ruin should the unexpected happen.
So, you encounter an incident, and you have insurance. What do you do now?
You will need to file a claim. An insurance claim is a formal request to your insurance company to receive money for a policy event covered by your insurance. If you suffered damages due to a covered incident, the insurance company will pay out based on their guidelines. Here is how to file a claim.
Call the Police (if Necessary)
If there was a crime or a serious accident involving injuries, call the police. An officer will investigate the situation and file a report. A police report can be extremely helpful in insurance cases.
Document Everything
Next, you will want to get as much information as possible about what happened. If there were other people involved, such as in a car accident, be sure to get their name, contact information, and insurance information, as well as descriptions of all vehicles involved.
Be sure to jot down as many notes as possible regarding the date, time, location, weather conditions, and other factors that could affect your case. Also, you will want to take lots of photos. Get pictures of the vehicles involved, damages, and injuries. If there was a burglary, make a list of items that were stolen. If you were injured, you will want to save all medical records related to the injury.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Once you are safe and have all the documentation you need, contact your insurance company. Your agent can guide you through the claims process. You will want to file your claim as quickly as possible. Ask your agent how long you have, as you don’t want to miss any deadlines. Once you have all the required information, you can typically file a claim online, or you can call your agent and file it through them as well.
Your insurance company will likely send out an adjuster to assess the damage. They will come up with an estimate, with a payout to a repair shop or maybe even yourself, if your vehicle was totaled.
Contact Our Michigan Insurance Agency Today
When something goes wrong in life, you need to take the proper steps to remedy it quickly. This may mean speaking to your insurance agent and filing a claim.
Hartman Insurance can help you with the claims process. We can help you navigate the complex world of insurance. Contact us today to learn more. Fill out the online form or call (734) 808-3146.