How To Make A Car Insurance Claim After An Accident?

Having auto insurance is a necessity in India. While many people understand the importance of getting a claim while purchasing the vehicle and renewing it – they often get confused when it comes to making a claim. Insurance claims are critical to recovering the cost of damages to the car. Policyholders have a minimal idea about how to make a claim. 

This article will outline the procedure for making a car insurance claim after an accident. It will highlight the steps to follow when the damage is done to your car and when the third party sends you a legal notice making a claim. The article will tell you the list of important documents that you need for making a car insurance claim after the accident.

Claim process for damage to your car:

In most cases, the claim is made against damages to your car. The process is simple and involves a few regular documents. Here are the steps you should follow – 

1. The first step is to call the insurance company as soon as the accident happens. You need to inform them about the damage done to your vehicle. 
2. Many people forget to intimate the police and file an FIR. The driver and vehicle details are important for that purpose. 
3. Next, you should take the car to a garage and get an estimate of the damage. Meanwhile, fill a form on the insurance company’s website to make a claim. 
4. A surveyor from the company will visit and make a report of the damage. The surveyor will send the report to the insurer after careful evaluation. 
5. You can get the car repaired and send the invoice to the insurer. You need to attach the document with the claim form that you are submitting to get approval. 
6. Check whether you will get a cashless claim or reimbursement. Based on that, you can either get the car repaired there and then or get the reimbursement after you get it fixed.

Documents needed for Car Insurance Claim:

Apart from the claim form, you need to provide certain documents to the insurance company for making the claim. These are important documents that support your claim for damages. Here are the documents you need – 

• Insurance claim form
• Car insurance policy (copy)
• FIR from the police
• Registration card (copy)
• Driving license (copy)
• Repair invoice (for reimbursement)

Claim process for third-party damages

A situation might arise where a third party has sent you a legal notice, asking for the claim of the damages done to their car. It happens when the third party is the victim in the accident, and your vehicle is the cause. Almost all insurance companies provide third-party car insurance, covering the cost of damages done to the other party from your vehicle.

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The insurer has to cover the damages to the car, physical injuries, or any loss due to your vehicle. Here are the steps you should follow when a third party raises a claim against you – 

1. Inform your insurer immediately after the accident. Do not settle the matter out of court or make any financial commitments without talking with your insurer. In most cases, the insurer will cover all the damages. 
2. Fill the form for the third-party claim. You need to fill the application form with your insurance company and not the other party’s company. 
3. Get the estimate from the third party about the damage from your vehicle. It is essential to inform your insurer about the amount that the third party is asking to pay. 
4. When the insurer verifies the document and approves the claim, they will appoint a lawyer who will handle the claim against you. 
5. If the court directs you to pay the claim based on the details, then the insurance company will make the payment. You will not have to spend anything.

Documents needed for Car Insurance Claim:

You need almost all the similar documents while making a third-party claim as you do when making a claim for your own damages. However, you need to send a copy of the legal notice and the claim that the third party has made against you, along with your RC, driving license, and the FIR, if the third party has registered one.

What to remember while making a car insurance claim?

Now that you know the process of making the claim, there are certain things that you need to know. Being informed about the process and the document is critical, but here’s what you should know more about making a claim – 

• It is essential to make the claim within a quick time frame. Delaying the claim might lead to repudiation, and you may face trouble getting it processed. 
• An important step is to take the details of the witness of the accident. You may have to contact them in the future if there are any legal notices or trials involved. It will help to identify the third party as well. 
• If there’s minimal damage that doesn’t require a claim, get it repaired yourself. It will take a long time to process if the out-of-pocket is low. 
• In the case of cashless insurance, do not pay the garage any money. When the insurance is approved, you can take the car to the mechanic, and the insurance company will directly pay to the garage.  
• If your claim gets rejected, you need to ask what the problem was. Make sure that you don’t provide any reason to the insurer for rejecting your claim. Generally, the maximum number of auto insurance claims get accepted if they are valid.

Conclusion

The process of making a car insurance claim after an accident is easy. You need to collect the required documents and submit them with the form. The insurance company will take care of it from there.

Today, almost all insurers have a good support network. You can reach out to them in case of any confusion and ask about the claim process. They can help you file it and assist you throughout the process. While the above points will help to simplify the claim process, a professional can assist you with the right steps to take as well.