# Claims Guide

## Universal Immediate Steps (All Claim Types)

1. Ensure safety — move to safe location if possible, check for injuries
2. Call 911 if there are any injuries or significant damage
3. Exchange information with other driver(s): name, phone, insurance company & policy number, license plate, driver's license number
4. Document everything: take photos of all vehicles (damage, positions, license plates), the scene, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries
5. Get contact info from any witnesses
6. File a police report (even if not legally required — it strengthens your claim)
7. **Do NOT admit fault or apologize at the scene**
8. Contact your insurance company within 24 hours
9. Seek medical attention even if you feel fine — some injuries have delayed symptoms
10. Keep all receipts for related expenses (rental car, medical bills, towing)

## Claim Type: Minor Fender Bender

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- Assess if damage is under your deductible — if repair cost < deductible, you may want to pay out of pocket
- Consider whether filing a claim is worth the potential rate increase
- For damage under ~$2,000 with no injuries, getting 2-3 repair estimates and paying out of pocket may be cheapest long-term
- If other driver is at fault, file claim with THEIR insurance first (third-party claim)

**Typical Timeline**: 1-2 weeks for simple property damage claims
**Coverage Used**: At-fault → Collision coverage; Not-at-fault → Other driver's liability / your collision
**Rate Impact**: At-fault first accident: ~20-40% increase for 3-5 years; Not-at-fault: usually 0-10%

## Claim Type: Major Accident

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- ALWAYS call 911 for major accidents
- Do not move vehicles unless they're blocking traffic and it's safe
- If injuries are serious, do not move injured people unless there's immediate danger
- Request ambulance for anyone with potential injuries
- Consider hiring a personal injury attorney if injuries are significant — most offer free consultations
- Do NOT give recorded statements to the OTHER driver's insurance without consulting your insurer or attorney
- File claim with your insurer immediately
- If your car is totaled, know your rights: you're entitled to fair market value (check KBB, Edmunds, NADA)

**Typical Timeline**: 2-6 months for property damage; 6-18 months if injuries involved
**Coverage Used**: Collision + Medical Payments/PIP + potentially UM/UIM
**Rate Impact**: At-fault: 40-80% increase for 3-5 years; Not-at-fault: 0-20% depending on insurer

## Claim Type: Hit and Run

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- Try to note any details about the fleeing vehicle (color, make, model, partial plate)
- Check for surveillance cameras in the area
- File police report IMMEDIATELY — required for hit-and-run claims
- This is covered under your Uninsured Motorist (UM) or Collision coverage
- If you only have liability, you may not have coverage — check your policy

**Typical Timeline**: 2-4 weeks for property damage; longer with injuries
**Coverage Used**: Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) or Collision coverage
**Rate Impact**: Generally no rate increase (you're not at fault)

## Claim Type: Weather Damage

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- Document all damage thoroughly with photos and video
- Cover/tarp any openings to prevent further damage
- This is covered under Comprehensive coverage (not Collision)
- Comprehensive claims generally have less rate impact than collision claims
- If damage is widespread (hail storm), there may be mobile claims adjusters in your area

**Typical Timeline**: 1-3 weeks; may be longer during widespread weather events
**Coverage Used**: Comprehensive coverage
**Rate Impact**: Usually 0-10% increase; some insurers don't surcharge for weather claims

## Claim Type: Theft

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- File police report immediately
- Notify your insurer within 24 hours
- This is covered under Comprehensive coverage
- If vehicle is recovered damaged, comprehensive covers repairs
- If not recovered within 30 days, typically declared total loss
- You'll need to provide proof of ownership and vehicle condition

**Typical Timeline**: 30-day waiting period (for recovery), then 1-2 weeks for settlement
**Coverage Used**: Comprehensive coverage
**Rate Impact**: Generally minimal rate impact

## Claim Type: Vandalism

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- File police report
- Document all damage
- Covered under Comprehensive
- Check if your deductible exceeds repair cost

**Typical Timeline**: 1-2 weeks
**Coverage Used**: Comprehensive coverage
**Rate Impact**: Usually minimal rate impact

## Claim Type: Windshield

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- Check if your state has a zero-deductible windshield law (AZ, CT, FL, KY, MA, MN, SC have free windshield replacement)
- Covered under Comprehensive with your deductible
- Many insurers offer $0 deductible glass coverage as add-on
- Safelite is the largest network but your insurer may have preferred shops
- Repair (for chips) is often free; full replacement uses your deductible

**Typical Timeline**: Same day to 1 week
**Coverage Used**: Comprehensive (glass coverage)
**Rate Impact**: Usually no rate impact

## Claim Type: Uninsured Motorist

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- File police report
- This is why UM/UIM coverage is critical — about 14% of US drivers are uninsured
- Your UM/UIM coverage acts as if you had the other driver's insurance
- If you don't have UM coverage, you may need to sue the other driver directly
- Consider adding UM/UIM to your policy if you don't have it

**Typical Timeline**: 2-6 weeks for property; 2-12 months if injuries
**Coverage Used**: Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage
**Rate Impact**: No increase — you're not at fault

## Claim Type: Rideshare Accident

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- Report to BOTH your personal insurer AND the rideshare company (Uber/Lyft)
- Coverage depends on which "phase" you were in:
  - **Phase 0** (app off): Your personal insurance only
  - **Phase 1** (app on, no ride): Rideshare company's contingent liability ($50K/$100K/$25K)
  - **Phase 2** (en route to pickup): Rideshare company's $1M liability
  - **Phase 3** (passenger in car): Rideshare company's $1M liability + UM/UIM
- You NEED a rideshare endorsement on your personal policy or a gap exists in Phase 1
- Take screenshots of your driver app status at the time of accident

**Typical Timeline**: 2-8 weeks depending on phase and complexity
**Coverage Used**: Personal policy + rideshare endorsement + Uber/Lyft commercial coverage (phase-dependent)
**Rate Impact**: Depends on phase and fault. Personal policy may increase if Phase 0/1

## Claim Type: Parking Lot

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- Check for surveillance cameras
- Leave a note with your info if you damaged someone's car
- If someone hit your parked car and left, this is a hit-and-run
- Report to business/property management for camera footage
- If damage is minor and other driver left, weigh deductible vs repair cost

**Typical Timeline**: 1-2 weeks
**Coverage Used**: Collision (if at fault) or UM/Collision (if hit-and-run)
**Rate Impact**: At-fault: 10-20% increase; not-at-fault: usually none

## Claim Type: Animal Collision

**Situation-Specific Steps:**
- **Do NOT swerve to avoid animals** — hitting an animal is a Comprehensive claim (lower impact); swerving into a ditch/object is a Collision claim (higher impact)
- File police report if it's a large animal (deer)
- Covered under Comprehensive coverage
- Take photos of animal and vehicle damage
- There are ~1.5 million deer collisions per year in the US

**Typical Timeline**: 1-2 weeks
**Coverage Used**: Comprehensive coverage
**Rate Impact**: Generally no rate increase

## General Tips (All Claims)

- Never accept the first settlement offer without reviewing it carefully
- You can negotiate with insurance adjusters
- Keep a claims diary documenting all communications
- You have the right to choose your own repair shop
- If you disagree with the settlement, you can file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance

## No-Fault State Note

In no-fault states, your own PIP coverage pays for your injuries regardless of fault, up to your PIP limit. In at-fault states, the at-fault driver's insurance pays for the other party's damages.