Smart Auto Insurance Blog

A new survey shows a concerning trend.  Of the 1000 Americans with auto insurance surveyed, many have confusion over what to do in the case of an auto accident according to the press release “New Survey Reveals Uncertainty on How to Respond When Auto Accidents Happen” from State Farm found on PR News Wire’s site.

About half of respondents feel it’s against the law to refuse to report an accident to an insurance company while 41% think it’s ok to not go through insurance.  74% say they are a witness to an accident if they are within 100 ft and 66% say being a witness means not getting involved.

One third of respondents believe that saying “I’m sorry” is more than just an apology and doesn’t admit fault.  83% of Americans stated they are likely to pull over if they witnessed an accident which did not involve them.  These questions don’t necessarily have clear cut answers and need evaluations for each unique situation.  Auto insurance is crucial, but if you don’t know the ins and outs of your policy you can be left confused and misinformed.  Each policy is different as well, so you need to compare auto insurance companies to fully understand what type of coverage you have.

Auto insurance companies are getting more and more strict with paying out claims as the recession is forcing consumers to request more money to cover damages.  This is according to the article “Under-Insurance Hitting Thin Wallets” by Roeland Van Der Bergh on stuff.co.nz.

Another downside to this economy from the viewpoint of the auto insurance company is the rising rates of insurance fraud according to the article “Recession is Fueling a Boom in Insurance Fraud” found on the Times Dispatch website.  This increase in fraud is keeping state regulators and law enforcement very busy across the nation.

A recent survey conducted by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud of 37 state insurance fraud bureaus found that the down economy has had a significant effect on the amount of fraud.  The bureaus reported an increase in fraud referrals and new investigations in all 15 categories of fraud covered in the survey.  Other tough financial times such as the influx in gas prices a few years ago.  As gas prices went up, so did the number of automobile fraud cases where people fraudulently reported their cars as stolen, or destroyed just to get the insurance payout from the auto insurance company.  People will do extreme things when faced with financial adversity.

Getting into an accident is a very stressful situation, whether it’s your fault or not.  It’s important to ensure that you know what to do in the case of an auto accident and even more important to remain calm.  The article “5 Steps to Filing Your Auto Insurance Claim” by Bobbie Sage on About.com discusses some key points to remember if you are in an auto accident.

First, evaluate if you actually need to file a claim.  If the damage is minor and you can pay for it out of pocket without any financial stress that may be the way to go to keep your driving record clean.  Second, document every detail of the accident to be sure you have the information to give your insurer if need be.  If deemed necessary, file your claim as soon as possible.  Most auto insurance companies, including Bristol West Insurance, are available 24 hours a day, every day to receive your claim information.

Be sure to prepare for a call from the insurance company of the other driver involved.  There may end up being a dispute in which case you will need to have all your information available.  Once your claim has been accepted you may get a visit from an insurance adjuster to access the damage and let you know where you can go to get your car fixed.  Getting in an accident is a complicated mess many times, but it doesn’t have to be.  Being prepared is the first step to a smooth resolution.

According to the article “Auto Insurance Customers Urged to get Breakdown Coverage” found on PrudentMinds.com, it’s extra important to have breakdown coverage through your auto insurance policy during the cold weather.

The article says that claim filings increase in the cold weather as road conditions are often hazardous.  In addition, cars are more likely to experience mechanical problems in the colder air.  The article also recommends making minor car checks before hitting the road such as oil level, anti freeze, hazard lights, tire tread and pressure, as well as ensuring you have a spare.  It’s also important to make sure your window wipers are working properly and you have sufficient wiper fluid.

In bad weather, there is a chance of being left in the cold for an extended period of time so it’s important to be protected.  It’s a good idea to keep safety items in your car such as a torch, warning sign, first aid kit, jumper cables, and a blanket.  Before you take a road trip in the wintry conditions, contact your auto insurance company to understand what type of breakdown coverage you have.