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State Dept. of Insurance advises what to do after an accident
If
involved in an accident, many do not know what to do for insurance
claims
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[May 02, 2014]
CHICAGO — The Illinois
Department of Insurance offers some tips on what information is
needed in the unfortunate case of an accident. According to the
state's transportation department, there were almost 6,000 motor
vehicle wrecks in Illinois from 2008 through 2012. Yet, with
hundreds of motor vehicle accidents occurring each year, drivers may
not know what to do following a crash. In addition to the tips,
drivers are reminded that April is Distracted Driving Awareness and
Enforcement Month, a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers
of distracted driving.
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 "Getting into an accident is stressful, and it can be difficult to
remember what to do when the accident occurs. Many people are not
sure what information to provide and obtain from the other driver.
And people may worry about the insurance claims process. We offer
the following tips on how to best prepare for the worst. And, of
course, the Department of Insurance can assist drivers to understand
the process or settle a claim with the insurance company," said DOI
Director Andrew Boron.
The tips fall under three categories: (1) be prepared; (2) after
an accident; and (3) filing the claim.
Be prepared
It's important to understand your auto insurance policy.
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Speak with your
agent especially about your deductible and liability limits and
options for adding protection for uninsured or underinsured
motorist coverage.
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Keep a copy of
your current insurance card, registration and other important
documents in your vehicle.
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Parents of teen drivers are urged to
talk with them about the risks of unsafe driving.
After an accident
Remain calm and assess the scene. Do not get out of your
vehicle if unsafe to do so.
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Call police;
inform them of any injuries. If police are not dispatched, file
an incident report for your claim.
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Be courteous, but
do not admit fault.
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In most cases, you
only need to provide your name and insurance information to the
other driver.
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Get names and contact information of
any witnesses.
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Filing the claim
Start the process as soon as possible, while accident details
are fresh in your mind.
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Call your
insurance company or agent, and when you make the call, have
available the police or incident report, your insurance
information, and a copy of the accident report that you created
at the scene.
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Take notes,
including the name and contact information of the person you
speak with, during any conversations you have with insurance
companies, claims adjusters and auto shops.
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Talk to your insurance company about
whose coverage will pay for damage to vehicles, for rental car
expenses and any medical costs as a result of the accident. Some
of these expenses will depend on who is at fault and what
coverage is included on your policy. Your insurance company
should be able to file the claim and work with the other
insurance companies on your behalf.
For more information, including a
smartphone app
(PDF guide), go to the website of National Association of
Insurance Commissioners:
http://www.insureuonline.org/auto_page.htm. Consumers who need
help to settle a claim with the insurance company may go to
http://insurance.illinois.gov/
autoinsurance/autoinsurance.asp or call the toll-free hotline of
the Illinois Department of Insurance at 866-445-5364.
[Text from
Illinois Department of
Insurance
file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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