Sometimes vehicle collisions are unavoidable, hence the name accidents. In the event that you get into an accident, you will need to contact your insurance company to let them know. Here at Wizard Auto Glass, we know you are already stressed enough without dealing with your insurance company. This is why we offer our Vehicle Vandalism Claims services along with our windshield repair services in the GTA. If you don’t want to deal with your insurance company, we’ll do it for you. We’ll even tow it to our shop for free to do the assessment.
Keep reading for more information about making a claim, and useful information to get after the accident.
How to Make a Claim
In the event that you get into an accident, there are some things that you need to remember:
Safety: The first thing to do is to make sure everyone involved is safe and unharmed.
Report: If no one is harmed, and the damage looks to be less than $1000, you don’t have to call the police, but you do have to call a Collision Reporting Centre to report the accident. You will need to do this within 24 hours of the accident.
911: If anyone is hurt, or if there is damage that appears to exceed $1000, you will need to call Emergency Services (police or ambulance).
Call your Insurance: Once you have your emergency services sorted, you will need to call your insurance broker or insurance company to support you through the claims process.
Stay calm: You’re stressed enough, panicking won’t help the situation. Try and remain calm after the collision. We know – easier said than done.
How to Report a Claim during Business Hours:
Call or e-mail your insurance representative to let them know what has happened and how best to contact you. They will report your claim and provide all of the necessary policy information to your insurance company. In most cases, a claims adjuster will be assigned and they will follow up with you for your claim, and to get coverage if you qualify.
How to Report a Claim After Business Hours:
Accidents don’t always happen during business hours. If you have an emergency situation requiring immediate assistance, many insurance companies have a 24-hour claims service to assist you. You can either look up the number to call or call your insurance company’s toll number to be directed to the 24-hour claim service.
Tips and Useful Information:
If you have cell phone or camera on you use it to take pictures of the accident. This will give you visible proof for your insurance company.
Write down the names, telephone numbers, addresses,and driver’s licence numbers of the other drivers. You should also write down the licence plate numbers of any other involved vehicles, as well as the names, addresses of the registered vehicle owners (if they are not present), and the insurance information for each of the other vehicles.
If you can, write down the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any witnesses. You should also write down any specific details about the scene of the accident. You will likely not be in the right headspace after the accident, so this will be helpful once you’ve calmed down to remember the details for your insurance company.
And remember, don’t voluntarily assume responsibility or liability for the accident, sign statements regarding fault, or promise to pay for damage at the scene of the accident. You may be able to save yourself a lot of time, money, and grief by waiting for the police and insurance company’s take.
Did you get into a collision and are too stressed to deal with your insurance company? Wizard Auto Glass has years of experience in reporting insurance claims. We will deal directly with your insurance company so you don’t have to!