Car Insurance, After the accident.

Please do the following things after an auto accident to avoid unnecessary problems with your claim. almost always the process goes smooth but some of it relies on you.

1) Do not discuss the details of the accident with anyone but your Insurance company and/or attorney if you feel it necessary to contact one.

a) If you do contact an attorney you are effectively cutting your agent out of the process, so understand this when you contact the agent, he can be brought into a lawsuit if he gives you advice that goes contrary to the attorney. Follow your attorney's advice and don't double check your attorney against the agent.

2) Exchange information with the other driver including name, address, insurance company name and policy number.

3) Call your Insurance company as soon as it is reasonable and safe and give them the details of your accident. If you are injured, call both your auto insurance and health car provider and file claims with both of them. Seek medical care asap. This is important especially in Florida as you coverage can be compromised if you do not.

4) If your car is damaged and you have collision Insurance and it is your fault, file a claim for damage with your own Insurance Company. If it isn't your fault, talk to your agent about filing the claim with the other parties' Insurance carrier (if they have coverage). This way you avoid deductibles and also may get other uncovered benefits (like a rental car if you do have not purchased the coverage on your own policy).

a) Do NOT authorize work on the car, and Do NOT sign any form that allows the shop to begin work until your claim is formally approved. You have a duty to allow the Insurance company to inspect the damage.

b) Do not sign any form the body shop presents to you that allows them to proceed without an estimate or to begin work prior to claim authorization. This is a recipe for disaster.

c) Trust the process, it usually goes very smooth. If it doesn't, contact your agent and have them intervene on your behalf.

d) The insurance adjuster will prepare an estimate. Oftentimes the body shop will prepare one that is much higher. Do not be alarmed. Let the body shop have the estimate and they will usually agree to do the work based on this estimate. IF they will not, tell them to negotiate the fee directly with the carrier. IF they won't, CONSIDER HAVING YOUR CAR TOWED SOMEWHERE ELSE. Since you were smart and didn't sign anything about daily fees and/or other nonsense up front, the body shop will have to release your car.

e) Most shops are Insurance friendly. Some are not. This can be important when picking a shop. Some company's will attempt to direct you to a repair shop that is on their approved list. Consider this, but also consider using the dealer you bought you car from. They have great incentive to keep you happy, and almost always have a good relationship with the insurance carrier.

f) Rarely something goes wrong and it ends up with a disagreement between you and the insurance company. If this happens, ask your agent to intervene and/or get his opinion on the dispute. If the problem persists, you have other options. ask for a second opinion from another agent. You can also take your car to another shop for a post-repair inspection and bolster your case this way. Another way would be to get legal counsel.

g) If you have filed a claim with the other driver's carrier and you can't come to terms with their settlement, as long as you didn't authorize work you can switch back to your company and settle it through your own collisiion coverage. However you will be responsible for the deductible up front. Once it is settled, your company will negotiate with the other carrier, and when (if) they get paid they will refund your deductible. This applies only when the accident is not your fault.

h) Do not assign payment direct to the body shop because You lose control over the work this way. Wait until the work is done and you are happy, then pay the shop directly.

I have been in the insurance industry for over 30 years and been in accidents myself where I needed repairs. Only one time did I have a problem and it was a dispute over whether a window was already broke when I brought it in, and this was with a claim against a company that did not insure my car. Both the body shop and the insurance company have an incentive to get the job done quickly and correctly. time=Money and time=bad customer relations for both of them. No business in their right mind wants uphappy customers. However there are a few bad actors on both sides and there are situations that just go bad. this is when a friend in the industry comes in. I am that friend, call me.

Bauknight Insurance operates two Counties in Florida, Bauknight Insurance, 13041 US Hwy 19, Hudson, FL 34667 (727) 863-5641 and Bauknight Insurance of Hernando 10488 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, Fl 34607 (352-686-0612