Car insurance is a double-edged sword. Consumers must pay for it to legally drive their vehicles on the road, but hope that they never have to use it. The goal is to find car insurance coverage that will pay out when needed, but has the smallest monetary footprint possible, so that the client does not feel overwhelmed. Even with a good policy in place, however, most consumers are very leery about contacting their insurance company with any problems or concerns, as they are concerned that any inquiry, question, or car insurance claim will cause their rates to skyrocket. There is also concern that multiple claims on a policy may make finding new car insurance coverage a difficult prospect.
Recently, many states have enacted insurance law that prevents companies from denying insurance coverage based on claims history. This means that your current company cannot drop you for using your insurance as it was intended, and nor can a new company use your old claims as a reason to deny coverage. However, a new company will ask about your accident history, completely apart from any claims made. This history, combined with any traffic violation or criminal driving history present, can have an effect on any car insurance quote offered.
The key when filing any car insurance claim is to be up-front and honest. Tell the insurance company the absolute truth about the collision, and do it as soon as possible. The more pro-active the consumer is when dealing with an insurance company, the less chance that there will be any negative consequences from the company themselves. While an at-fault accident may raise a consumer’s car insurance rates, being honest and up-front will bode far better for any future insurance policies and claims than lying or being deceptive about an accident claim, as the company will inevitably find out. Deliberate deception or misrepresentation of the facts is still a legitimate reason for any insurance company to drop a client or for a new company to refuse service.
No one wants to make a car insurance claim, fearing higher rates or poor service by their provider, but it is often a necessity. Owning a safe vehicle, driving defensively and dealing with your auto insurance company directly about all serious car damage is the best way to make sure that your current policy operates in the most effective way possible, and can also assist in helping to secure a new car insurance policy should the need arise to change providers. While filing any auto insurance claim is stressful, the right provider will help you through the process and be up-front about how the claim will affect your current and future insurance needs.
