How do I file an auto insurance claim and what exactly will happen to my insurance rate, deductible, etc. ?

Apr 24th, 2011
by admin.

My windshield was really frosty but I only had to drive like 20 yards to get where I wanted. So like an idiot, I start driving and run into a fire hydrant. This damages the front right quarter panel, the right blinker, and it may have also damaged the axel or steering column because I couldn’t get my car to move after that. What do I tell my insurance company? and am I going to have to pay anything?

Posted in: Auto Insurance Claim.
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5 Comments

  1. websterjdjr says:
    May 9, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    just call the toll free number and tell tem what happened amigo,thats why you have insurance. why are you scared to use it?

  2. la428282 says:
    May 9, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    Call your insurance company and tell them you want to file a claim. They will go over the basic information about what happened and will put you at fault for the accident. Then, someone will do an estimate on your car and write you a check for the amount of damages minus your collision deductible. You rates MAY increase but not extensive enough to stop you from filing a claim.

  3. oklatom says:
    May 9, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    First check your policy. If all you have is PL and PD, it will pay for the fire plug if you damaged it, but won’t pay the damage on your car. If you have collision, they will, minus any deductible amount of course.

    If you have collision, all you will have to pay is whatever deductible amount is listed there. Your insurance MAY go up, ask when you call about the claim.

    As to what to tell them, just what you told us.

  4. dlw316 says:
    May 9, 2010 at 8:21 pm

    Call the claims dept # with your insurance… Tell them you want to file a new auto claim.. They will ask you a series of questions about what happened… If your have adequate coverage they will offer repair options… You will have to pay your ded first before they will pay anything out… So lets say the damage is 2,000 to your veh, and you ded is 500.. You would have to pay the first 500 then your insurance would pay the other 1,500.. Generally if your involved in an accident, and are at fault as long as the damages are to your veh, and the other damaged property are less than a 1,000 your rates will stay the same… If your at fault, and the damages are more than a 1,000 your rates may go up… Now if your in an accident, and are not at fault, it doesn’t matter how much the damage is your rates should never go up.. Unless of course you file 50 claims in a months time then they may go up, or you may get dropped… Did you contact the police dept, because you may be liable for the hydrant… Good Luck

  5. Kim G says:
    May 9, 2010 at 8:36 pm

    First this is an at fault loss. You will be required to pay for your deductible, the insurance company will pay for the repairs that exceed your deductible. If the fire hydrant was damaged, the insurance will pay for that too.

    What do you tell them? What you wrote. BTW, there is no such thing as a right front quarter panel…it’s the right fender, the quarter panel is in the rear.

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