How do I claim insurance if an accident causes damage to my motor car?

The definition of an accident is that it is an event that is fortuitous, in that it couldn't have been controlled nor predicted. If you drive into a lamppost, even if you drive very badly, it could theoretically be called an accident, even though with a better driver it would be less likely to happen (which is why better drivers get lower premiums).

Furthermore, you can put an immobiliser or alarm on your motor vehicle, and put it in a locked garage, and it could still be stolen. This is an accident, because you did everything you could be expected to do to avoid it. Thus, you need to make a claim on your motor insurance policy.

In order to claim, you don't actually have to have been in what you would term as an accident. There is a term called a 'claim event' that should be introduced here. A claim event could be a chipped windscreen, or a motor vehicle that has caught fire, or been broken into. When a claim event occurs, there is a list of things you should do. This list, luckily for you, has become much shorter recently, with the onset of the computer and the growth of 'direct insurance'.

20 years ago, a claim event would mean you needed to fill out a claim form from your insurance broker. Then you have to go around getting quotes, and then present them to your insurance broker who will send the form to your insurance company. The response to this could take days, and at first will involve an engineer being sent to you in order to inspect the car pre- as well as post-repair.

Now, due to the advances mentioned above, the speed of the whole service has improved massively, and it doesn't matter whether you bought insurance from a direct insurer or a broker.

If you have comprehensive cover, you can now call from the accident's scene and your insurer will send a tow-truck down if needed to take your vehicle to the nearest approved repairer. This repairer will have instant authorisation to repair your motor vehicle, and your insurance company should even provide you with a courtesy car whilst repairs are carried out. The whole process, should the work not be too serious, could result in your car being returned to you within a few days.

The recovery service or approved repairer will sometimes actually inform your insurer about your accident for you. So, when you get home, you can just phone the insurer and they'll fill out most of your form for you. Don't expect though to be able to fill out a form online - it hasn't yet been adopted fully by insurers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© AskFinancially.com 2008

Motor Insurance

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