Tips for Dealing with Your Insurance Company to Cover Damage
 
Being involved in an auto accident, whether your fault or the other driver’s fault, can be a daunting situation to be in. Taking time to deal with an insurance adjuster or claims agent can be a very stressful time not only because you may find yourself without a reliable vehicle to get around in, but also because dealing with an insurance company can be very time consuming. One of the most important things you can do to help ensure your claim is handled efficiently is to try to remain calm even when the situation has you feeling entirely stressed out.
Here are some tips for dealing with your insurance company to cover damage and to keep your mind at ease.
Gather Information at the Scene
It would be great if we could completely trust the actions of others. If that were possible, we could simply walk away from an accident with the knowledge that the driver responsible for the accident would report everything to their insurance company in a timely manner. Unfortunately, all too often, the person responsible for an accident does not always want to contact their insurance agency to report an accident. This means that even if it’s a minor fender bender, you need to gather the following information at the scene of the accident:
• The other driver’s name and contact information
• Photos of the damage
• Statements from any potential witnesses to the accident
• The insurance company name and policy number of the other driver
In some cases, gathering information at the scene of the accident may not be possible. This would be in situations where the other driver, or yourself, is transferred by ambulance to the hospital due to injuries or the driver is not cooperating. In such a situation, it is very important to follow up with the police as soon as possible after the accident.

 
Contact the Insurance Company
Whether the accident was your fault, or the fault of the other driver, you need to contact your insurance company. The insurance company will need the following information:
• Who was driving the car?
• The vehicle involved in the accident
• Passengers names (If applicable)
• Time of accident
• Location of accident
• The other driver’s insurance information
• A description of what caused the accident
• The police report number (The police report will usually list the at fault driver which will be beneficial to the insurance company)

Determining Fault
The at fault driver will be responsible to cover the cost of property damage and/or personal injury resulting from the accident. Once the accident has been reported to the insurance company, they will assign an insurance adjuster to the case who will then determine fault based on police reports, witness testimony, photos and statements from those involved in the accident and will then determine an offer to make to either cover the cost of repair or injury or they will decide that the vehicle should be totaled and will offer a settlement to cover the value. 
If you agree with the settlement offer, you will sign a legal document showing that you agree on the amount offered and the insurance company will cut you a check with payment in full. If you disagree with the settlement, never sign anything and do not accept any money. At this point, you should contact an attorney to fight for an amount that you agree with.
If you have been injured in an accident, having an attorney is a good idea. Many insurance companies will offer low personal injury settlements or will not want to pay for medical bills that may be ongoing. If an injury is severe, there is a chance that you will need treatment that extends beyond the scope of what the insurance company offers to settle. A personal injury attorney will take the case with no money upfront and once everything is settled, they will get their cut of the payment.

Automobile Repair
After an accident it is tempting to have the car sent directly to the auto repair shop to begin repair work. This is fine if you plan to pay everything out of pocket rather than with an insurance settlement. If you want the insurance company to cover the cost of repair however, you need to wait on the insurance adjuster to inspect the vehicle and determine what damages, if any, they will cover.
If you prefer that your car be repaired at a shop you are familiar with, be sure to let the adjuster know this. You do not have to have repair work handled at a shop just because the insurance company recommends a specific repair shop. If the vehicle is damaged and out of your local area, you can speak to the insurance company about locating long distance auto transport to move the car to your local area for repair work.
If you do not agree with the insurance adjuster’s valuation of damage or of the totaled car, you have the legal right to appeal the decision. You also have the legal right to have an independent appraisal done to verify the amount.
Car Rental
If your car is damaged beyond repair and the accident is not your fault, be sure to request a rental reimbursement from the at fault driver’s insurance company. Many insurance companies will pay for a rental from the date of the accident and for at least 24 hours after a settlement has been paid to allow the driver to purchase another car or arrange reliable transportation.

 
Personal Injury
If you are injured in an accident, it is important to have medical treatment immediately to help lower the risk of pain later that stems from the accident. You need to let your doctor know that the injury has been caused from an automobile accident so they can note that in your medical chart.
Contacting a personal injury attorney is important if you need to see a doctor. They will be able to assist with filing a personal injury claim and will know what amount to file for.
If you disagree with the insurance adjuster’s appraisal or settlement and they are not willing to work with you, you can contact the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for information on your state insurance regulators.