So here you are cruising along, flying high, and then—bam! in your a little fender-bender. Welcome to the obstacle course of auto insurance claims. Hold onto your seat–we’re about to untangle these webs and get your brilliant set of wheels back on line with Golden State Auto Rates.
Step 1: But when disaster strikes, don’t wait until pigs fly before you call your friendly insurance representative. Immunize yourself against shock by quickly collecting your essentials: insurance details, driver’s license, and a list of what happened step-by-step. Think of it as your detective log–if it’s missing clues it may not look good for you at trial.
Once you are in touch with the insurance company, it’s like jumping into an alphabet soup of terms. What’s a “deductible,” you want to know? That’s the money you have to put out of pocket ahead of any help from the insurance policy, so that figure is crucial. It’s the toll you pay before crossing a bridge to financial aid–unpleasant but necessary.
Next up for bids are your estimates. Look at them as auditions–you want the best person for the job of fixing up your car. Whether it ‘s an automotive dealer’s repair shop or your neighbor’s garage, get multiple quotes. Believe me, going for the cheapest may leave your car looking more like a Picasso painting than a smooth piece of art.
Need a set of wheels in the meantime? You might have rental coverage. Check it out with your insurance company; wouldn’t want any stories of wandering around on foot. And remember to specify whether you’re going in style (like me) or trying to cram into a little hatchback that even squirmingly fits your golf bag.
Finally, when you get to the nitty-gritty of signing documents, play Sherlock Holmes and really check out the fine print. A careless glance just won’t do–details are paramount! Any discrepancies could cost you. You can’t just let that be water under the bridge.
As you perform this balancing act between repair work and making your insurance claim, staying calm is the most important. Keep in close touch with your insurance company– communicate on an open basis with them, stick to your guns as unassailably as possible; and try hard to avoid pratfalls. But don’t forget that every claims story is a tale in the making, and yours should be epic.