Car insurance is not only necessary to legally drive, but coverage is needed at one point in your driving career. If you are still browsing for car insurance, we have compiled a list of questions to ask when buying car insurance to help you decide the best coverage for you and your family.
There are few things as frustrating as dealing with car accidents without adequate coverage. At TSL Insurance, we provide stellar car insurance plans in Lafayette, Abbeville, and Franklin, LA, suited to your specialized needs.
No car is exactly the same, and neither is the coverage needed. However, once you actually need to use your policy, it can be confusing where to start. We break down below exactly what steps you can expect in the event that you need to use your car insurance coverage.
You’re in an Accident – Now What?
If you find yourself in a car accident, the first thing to remember is not to panic and breathe. Keep this in mind: the reason you have car insurance is exactly for this reason. Try to safely move your vehicles off of the road if possible. No matter the situation or what the other car driver may ask, call the police so there can be an official police report.
This will ensure documentation, which will be needed by your or the other person’s insurance company. Once the police show up, he or she will take each of your statements and write up a report. If appropriate, tickets may be issued to you or the other driver. Make sure to take pictures of the damage. Most importantly, don’t leave the scene without exchanging contact information and insurance policies with the other driver.
Write Down as Many Details as Possible
Using your phone, make a note of details regarding the accident scene. Insurance and driver information, make and model of the car, what caused the accident, information from witnesses if you had any, etc. This is going to be all vital information the insurance company will need and want in settling the claim.
Who Do I Call for the Claim?
Typically, whoever is at fault will be calling their insurance to settle the claim. If you are not at fault, you won’t need to call your insurance company, unless you know or suspect the other driver doesn’t have insurance.
It is also not uncommon for the at-fault driver to delay an insurance claim. Make sure to check in with the other driver if you haven’t heard from them in a reasonable time. If the claim has already been initiated, you can contact their insurance company directly.
What Happens If the at-fault Driver Doesn’t Have Car Insurance?
This definitely is a situation you don’t want to find yourself in, but it does happen. This is also a reason why it is so important to have “insured motorist” coverage included in your overall auto policy. If you have it, this will kick in and will pay for your damages. If not, you could find yourself having to pay out of pocket for any expenses incurred.
If I am at Fault, When Do I File the Claim?
You will want to file the claim immediately. When you do call your insurance provider, you will need to provide your policy number, all notes, and details from the accident, as well as any police report. Your insurance provider should take you through this process and notify you of any extra necessary documentation they may need.
Coverage You Can Count on at TSL Insurance
As one of the premier local car insurance firms in the Lafayette, Abbeville, and Franklin, LA, areas you can expect a different experience at TSL Insurance. We will intently study your car, automotive needs, and coverage requests. From there, our agents create a customized plan with all the coverage that you need, without any extra fluff.
We believe helping our customers includes not adding on extras that will never be needed, and thus, will guarantee a lower premium each month. Contact our team and we will be happy to set up a free consultation. We look forward to serving you and all your automobile coverage needs.
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