If you’ve only gotten into a small fender bender and not a serious car accident, you may be wondering whether it’s really necessary to call the insurance company or not. You may be worried that they will increase your premiums, even if it wasn’t your fault.

Whether you’re worried or not, you should always make a point of filing a report with the insurance company.

Here are some good reasons why:

1. You cannot be sure what the other person is going to do. Another person might act friendly at the scene of the accident and suggest that you settle things privately in order to keep the insurance premiums down. The person may seem trustworthy, but they may end up calling the insurance company anyway. This will make it look like your fault and will not work in your favor. The best thing to do is inform both parties’ insurance companies of the facts of the accident and let the insurance company determine fault.

2. You want to get the money you deserve. At the scene of the accident, you may not know how much repairs will cost. If you make an agreement with the other person, you cannot be sure that they will follow through on their promise. They may balk at the high cost or be unable to afford it. The insurance company will pay you the money that you are owed.

3. Damages are not always obvious. Things may look fine to the naked eye, but there could be internal damage to your car. Only a mechanic will be able to tell you this and give you an accurate
estimate of how much it will cost to fix your car.

4. You may be eligible for diminished value compensation. If your car has been in an accident, it will be worth less when you try to sell it, even if it looks like it’s brand new. Insurance companies
should pay you the cost of this diminished value, which could be thousands of dollars.

While most people will agree that the insurance companies should be called when there’s been an accident, you’ll occasionally meet someone that resists this idea. This is usually because they are at fault and are worried about what will happen to them. Don’t let this person bully you into not calling the insurance company, even if the person is offering you a cash settlement. It’s always in your best interest to follow the rules and do things the right way.

Shannon Tani
Researcher/Writer

After you’ve had a car accident, you may feel stressed about what to do. You want to get all the money that the insurance company owes you, but it’s important for you to follow the right steps.

You’ll have to talk to the insurance company. Make a list of questions that you have before you call. If you don’t understand something, call back. Keep asking questions until you fully understand all of your rights and responsibilities.

In most cases, the insurance company will only pay for repairs that are done by certain mechanics. Your mechanic may not be one of the ones that you can see. However, if you trust your mechanic, you may want to take your car to that shop first to get a list of the things that you’ll need fixed. That way, you can be sure  that the insurance company-approved mechanic is not trying to cut corners.

Make sure that you understand the time limit to settle a claim from the insurance company. Most insurance companies require you to have repairs done within a certain time frame and they will not cover the costs if you exceed that period.

Don’t settle for something that you don’t want. A car mechanic may try to push you to use generic replacements, but if you want to use the brand associated with your car, insist that they use the manufacturer’s brand.

Keep all of your receipts so that you can prove how much you paid for repairs. These are an important part of your proof.

You may want to see how much the accident has diminished the value of your car even after repairs. Any car that has been in an accident is automatically worth less money than a car that is the same year, make, and model as a car that hasn’t been in an accident. You can try to get the insurance company to compensate you for the loss of value to your car.  If you were NOT at fault, you may be able to negotiate a claim for the diminished value.  Check with Advocate Auto Claims to see if you have a valid claim.

Finally, don’t take a check from the insurance company unless you believe it’s fair. Insurance companies are running a business and they will do their best to pay you as little as possible. They may even offer you a check that is not for the full amount, hoping that you will take it and settle. This is not in your best interest. Make sure that you get all of the money you deserve.