by Gayle Jackson

Created on: October 07, 2008   Last Updated: October 15, 2008

Filing an insurance claim only requires two things: a phone to make the call and of course insurance coverage. No fault insurance in most areas has made filing a claim a breeze. Especially when insured by one of the bigger insurance companies.

If you get hit or someone hits you always exchange personal identification and insurance information. Then call your insurance company and ask what to do. It really is that simple.

In the case of a more serious infraction, where the police are involved, still call your company. The following are two examples of filing an insurance claim. And don't worry it will be alright.

My daughter was hit a few weeks ago. The other driver had full coverage. They exchanged information. Let the fun begin.

The phone rings; "Mom, what do I do, this lady just hit me in the parking lot.

I answer, "Call our insurance company and ask them."

She calls back, "They said it was the lady's insurance deal, not ours."

She filed the insurance claim with the other company over the phone. They asked all the identifying questions and suggested getting the damage appraised. She was offered a rental, while her vehicle was in the shop.

She did not set up an appointment, she's 18. We advised her on the proper procedure taken the last time we had an accident. Take the car to a auto shop and get an estimate. They will contact the insurance company and the appraiser. When it is not your fault, the insurance claim is handled by the other persons company.

A week later, the phone rings again, "Mom, this cop is here with a check for $975, what do I do?"

The insurance company had sent a police officer to look over her car, and offer a settlement. Of course she took the money. Then called back, to see if she'd done the right thing.

They also paid for the rental the following week when coincidently the brakes went bad. Dad also replaced the headlight and did a quick bump and paint job. Interesting and easy.

Another example of claim filling: Two years ago, the same daughter, ran a stop sign. She was broadsided, her car; totaled. Exactly one week before, we insisted she self insure just in case. A smart move when teen drivers are involved.

We had to sweet talk the junk yard owner into making up a bill to cover all the costs. She filed an insurance claim for the towing. The police had towed and impounded the car. There were storage fees also. It was not the standard tow bill procedure, luckily I didn't wear my sweats.

Filing an insurance claim for towing, or the dreaded; "I locked the keys in the car," is a matter of taking the bill in and getting reimbursed. That is if the towing option was selected with coverage.

The most important insurance claim filing advice; call immediately, report the incident, follow instructions and then call Mom.

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