local car insurance Helpful Advice and Useful Tips

• After the accident
  The moments after an automobile accident can be confusing, but being prepared can help you remain calm. It's important to know what to do immediately after an accident and what to do in the days following the accident.
  
  
  If you are in an accident, your first concern will be making sure there are no injuries. If you can move your car to the side of the road safely, do so. If the accident is serious or if there are injuries, don't move the vehicles. In addition, don't move the vehicles if you believe there will be a dispute as to fault.
  
  
  Take any necessary safety precautions. Turn on your flashers. If possible, direct traffic away from the scene.
  
  
  Then, call the police or 911 as needed. Remember that police should always be called to the scene of a serious accident, and also to minor ones if property damage is significant or if a traffic violation is involved (e.g., running a stop sign). Remain at the scene until the police have arrived.
  
  
• Gather information
  After calling the police, your next step should be to gather necessary information from the other driver. As you talk with the other driver, remember that you should NOT admit responsibility for the accident because there may be legal repercussions.
  
  
  Just calmly discuss the facts of the accident and exchange the following important information with the other driver:
  
  
  Driver's personal identification: Name, address, phone number of the driver and driver's license number. (Note: If you are hesitant about safety, don't give your address or phone number to anyone but the police.)
  
  Auto information: Vehicle license plate number and state. Take note of the color, make, model and current condition of the vehicle and whether it has damage unrelated to this accident.
  
  Car owner information: Name and address of the owner of the car, if different from the driver
  
  Insurance information: Name of the insurance company and policy number
  
  Witness information: Get names and contact information of other passengers or witnesses. Get name of police officer responding, as well.
  
  After exchanging the necessary information, you should also write down your recollection of the accident. You might even want to draw a sketch of the accident scene that illustrates the position of the cars, the intersection, lanes, directions, and obstacles.
  
  
• always remember
  Refuse to take any money for settlement of a claim at the accident scene. Later, if you don't want to involve your insurance company, you can always negotiate a settlement with the individual. If you do so, have him or her sign a letter releasing you from further liability.
  
• Filing a claim
  Whether your accident is severe or minor and regardless of fault, there are a number of basic steps that you'll need to follow to file your claim. To make this process run as smoothly as possible, you'll need to know how to file a claim and deal with your insurance company.
  
  
  The process of filing claim is often thought to be a complicated and stressful process, but the more you know about it, the smoother it will be and the greater your chances will be of being happy with the settlement.
  
• Step 1: Report the accident immediately.
  The first thing you should do is to promptly phone your insurance company or insurance agent to notify them that you've been in an accident. Do this as soon as possible, even if you're far from home.
  
  
  Most companies provide 24-hour claims reporting. Often, the phone number is found on the back of your "pink-slip" or on the policy documentation. Alternatively, if you have a broker you can call the broker for guidance.
  
  
  Even if your accident is relatively minor or you are not at-fault, you should notify your insurance company. Current state laws generally protect you from higher rates unless you caused an accident. So your insurer should always be informed, regardless of the circumstances.
  
  
• Step 2: Ask how you should proceed.
  Find out from your insurance agent or the company representative what you need to do, and what forms or documents you need to support your claim.
  
  Here are a few questions that you should ask your representative:
  
  
  Am I covered for these losses?
  
  What is my deductible?
  
  How long will it take to process my claim?
  
  Does my policy have a time limit on filing a claim?
  
  Is there a time limit during which claims must be resolved after they are filed?
  What are those time limits?
  
• Step4: Read your policy carefully.
  No one really wants to read an auto insurance policy filled with fine print and insurance jargon. But the days immediately following an accident are probably a good time to look it over. Knowing what your policy covers can prevent unpleasant surprises later on.
• Step 5: Keep records of your expenses and other paperwork
  In some cases, the insurance will pay the hospital, car mechanic, or other service provider directly. In other cases, you may have to pay these expenses out of your own pocket, and your insurance company will reimburse you for covered expenses.
  
  
  Potential out-of-pocket expenses might include medical and hospital bills, car repair bills, rental car costs, and lost wages. Since you will probably need receipts in order to be reimbursed, it's wise to keep copies of these and other important documents in a safe location.
  
  
• Step 6: Don't forget your other insurance.
  Don't forget that other types of insurance (e.g., health, homeowner's, etc.) may cover certain losses resulting from an auto accident, depending on the type of loss and other circumstances
• Processing the claim
  When processing your claim, the insurance company first must confirm that your policy is in effect and that the accident is covered. After that is determined, your claim may be assigned to a claims adjuster.
  
  
  The adjuster will look at the damages to your car, evaluate the loss and figure out how much you can claim under your policy. This figure will be the insurance company’s estimate of what they will pay to repair your car-the total claim payment.
  
  
• Inquire about multifamily/multipolicy discounts
  Many insurers will give you a discount if you buy two or more types of insurance from them. Also you may get a reduction if you have more than one vehicle insured with the same company. Some insurers reduce premiums for long-time customers. But shop around; you may save money buying from different insurance companies despite the multi-policy discount.
• Specific ways to save money on auto insurance
  Shop around: One of your first steps should be to shop around. A particularly good time to investigate your alternatives is when your current policy is up for renewal, especially if you find that your premium has gone up. You may be surprised to learn that auto insurance premiums for the exact same coverage on the same car can vary widely (by hundreds of dollars) between different insurers, even in states that regulate auto insurance rates.
  
  Increase your deductible: For many people, raising the deductible on their auto insurance is a good way to cut the cost of the policy. Sometimes you can reduce your annual premium by 10 percent or more if you increase your deductible from, say, $250 to $500. If you do this, however, make sure you have the financial resources to handle the larger deductible when the time comes.
  
  Narrow the scope of your coverage: One seemingly obvious solution is to eliminate certain types of coverage from the policy. Most states require you to have liability coverage in most states, but other non-mandatory coverages may be expendable. Be careful, though, because you don't want to be underinsured if you're in an accident. Even though medical payments, uninsured motorist, collision, and comprehensive coverages may be optional in some states, it's usually not advisable to get rid of them altogether.
  
  If you drive an older car worth less than $1,000, it may be cost-effective to drop collision and comprehensive coverage. The rationale is that even if the vehicle were severely damaged in an accident, the amount the insurer would pay for its repair or replacement would be relatively small. In some cases, the amount you'd receive might not even cover the costs of the premiums and the deductible.
  
  You might also consider dropping any options you may have added to your policy (special provisions for items like towing and labor, car rental, and loss of income). Removal of these items will reduce your premium somewhat, but will also expose you to the costs in question