Holiday Season Insurance Claims

The holidays are a wonderful time of year filled with family, fun, and lots of festivities. However, the increase in travel all over the country creates higher risks for car wrecks. When an influx of claims swamps insurance companies, they could try to diminish the severity of yours.

Here are a few tips that you can keep in mind if you find yourself in an accident this holiday season.

Call the Police First

A police report is a crucial piece of evidence that insurance companies utilize when settling claims. They are more inclined to answer claims that present the police reports first during the busy season.

Monitor Coverage

Keep a close eye on your insurance coverage. Many drivers think that once their policy is in force that it covers anything and everything. This is not the case. The new potential injury or property damage may not be taken into account when the policy is written. Keep in touch with your agent to determine what has changed.

Respond to the Claims Quickly

A car accident is stressful and should be taken seriously. The quicker you respond to a claim, the better it will be for you. While waiting for your insurance company to answer, the costs of repairs, fees, and any subsequent claims could escalate.

If you get caught up in a car wreck, remember to contact the insurance company for assistance. Arrange to speak with your insurance agent about possible repairs and replacements of your personal property, and keep in touch with the third-party claims manager.

Don’t File Claims Too Often

Filing many claims over a short period of time will significantly increase your monthly premium rates. You should not file a claim over trivial matters. As a rule of thumb, only file a claim when the costs of repairs are considerably more than your deductible.

Insurance companies will do everything they can to put out the fires and settle claims as quickly as possible. However, their ultimate goal should be to save money for their own customers.

Depending on the magnitude of the claim, the insurance company will either pay a certain percentage of the costs and send you on your way, or they will hold you responsible for a majority of the costs. Whatever happens, the most important thing is to keep calm, file your claim quickly, and remain in contact with your insurance company.

When We Can Help

Insurance companies owe their policyholders the duty of good faith and fair dealing. A breach of duty occurs when an insurance company delays or denies benefits or fails to promptly and effectively communicate with claimants. The company is aware that the delay or denial is unreasonable or recklessly disregards the outrageous conduct.

If your insurance benefits were wrongfully delayed or withheld, you might be owed compensation. Let the skilled team at Gaddis, Herd, Craw & Adams, P.C. see if we can help you recover it.

Contact our team at (719) 625-3310 today or fill out a form online to discuss the details of your case and schedule your free consultation.