When To Make A Car Insurance Claim Many people have asked themselves this question: should I file a car insurance claim if I have been in a really minor accident or a small-time collision in a place like a parking lot? This can be a really difficult question to answer. Everyone knows that filing a claim can result in higher car insurance premiums, but it is very difficult to know how much the increase will be and for how long. Car insurance companies use sophisticated calculations based on a lot of data to come up with car insurance rates for their policyholders. There are a few things you can consider that might help you better understand when it is the right time to file a claim or not.
Single Car Accident If you are involved in single-car accident, you should try and assess the damage at the scene. An example of this type of incident would be backing into a pole or something similar. If there is damage to the object you collided with, you should get in touch with the person in charge of the object and ask if they want to take any action. If your car was the only thing that was damaged in the incident, taking it to an auto body shop and asking for an estimate is important. This will help you determine whether to file a claim, pay for the repairs yourself, or live with the damage. Some have said that if the damage will cost under $1,000, that it might be a better idea to fix it on your own rather than filing a car insurance claim.
Accident Where You Are At Fault If you are the cause of a two-vehicle collision, you are under legal obligation to provide the other drive with your insurance policy information. However, there is nothing wrong with explaining to them that you would rather pay to fix their damages out of your own pocket to avoid filing a claim. They can always file a claim later on (as long as it is within 10 days of the incident) if they do not feel like you will honor your commitment of paying for the damages yourself.
Accident Where You Are Not At Fault You may find yourself in a situation where the tables are turned and the person at fault is asking you not to file a claim. You want to make sure you get their
insurance information and get the police on the scene to file a report as well. This way, you have all the back up you need to avoid being stuck with the bill. The last thing you want is to have to file a claim with your car insurance company for an accident that you did not cause in the first place. You will be stuck paying your deductible and perhaps with a higher premium moving forward. CNC Insurance offers all types of insurance. If you are in the Frisco area and need car insurance or any other type of policy, give us a call today.