How To Report An Insurance Claim – If you have been involved in a traffic accident, you should always obtain an accident report (or “police report”). Police reports are important for many reasons and could have a huge impact on your personal injury case. First, police reports contain information that is needed to file a claim for personal injury or property damage. The report specifically identifies the vehicles involved, the vehicle owners, the drivers involved and the insurance coverage available. Having the police report reflect this information is much better than trying to write it down or remember it yourself. Police officers are trained to obtain this information more accurately and have the skills to detect when other drivers may be trying to offer fraudulent information.

Insurance information is needed to open your personal injury or property damage claim. To do so, you will need to call the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Once the representative is on the phone, the driver’s information and insurance number will need to be provided. Details of the accident will be published and the insurance company will assign a claim number, appoint an insurance adjuster to handle the incident and begin an investigation. The car accident attorneys at Scottsdale Injury Lawyers strongly recommend that you hire an attorney early and allow them to call the insurance company to open any claims.

How To Report An Insurance Claim

How To Report An Insurance Claim

The police report is important because it shows the responsible officer’s thoughts on how the accident happened. Typically, when police officers respond to an accident, they conduct an investigation into the events and how they occurred. Among other things, officers will interview the parties involved, interview witnesses, take photographs and issue a final conclusion on how they believe the accident occurred.

What It Is & How To Check For Free In 2023

In police reports, the driver listed as “Traffic Unit #1” is usually considered the culprit.

Most importantly, the police report will sometimes include a finding of which driver or party was at fault in the accident or collision. This can be contained in the narrative section. If the description section states that a fault has been detected, the first driver of the fault will still be listed in the report.

In certain situations, the police report may also indicate that the responding officer has filed a criminal complaint against the offender. This unbiased opinion can help you with a personal or property injury claim.

If the at-fault driver is charged with a misdemeanor, the citation information should be included in the police report.

Insurance Damage Report Template

Insurance companies are almost always guided by a finding of fault in a police report. This is true even if the insurance company’s own insured driver tells a different story or claims not to be at fault. Basically, if the driver’s opinion of fault differs from the police report, the insurance company will usually ignore it and go with the findings in the police report. So if you have been involved in a car accident and are being questioned by the police about the events leading up to it, you need to forcefully state your side of the story. Someone who doesn’t have a good command of the facts or claims they don’t remember what happened can be found guilty in a police report, even if they aren’t.

Basically, if the driver’s opinion of fault differs from the police report, the insurance company will usually ignore it and go with the findings in the police report.

It goes without saying that a police report can be beneficial to your personal injury case. However, even if you believe the report will not be favorable to your case, you should still get it. As police officers are trained and experienced, so are people. If the other driver is trying to argue against your case, based on the findings of the police report, you will need the police report to analyze it. An experienced attorney will be able to investigate your case and determine if the information in the police report is true and accurate.

How To Report An Insurance Claim

So how can you get a copy of your Scottsdale or Maricopa County car accident police report? The process depends on which police agency responded to the scene and made the report. There are four agencies in the city of Scottsdale that you are most likely to encounter after a car accident. These include: Scottsdale Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Salt River Police Department. Below are the steps to obtain your police report from the following agencies. Of course, if you hire Scottsdale Injury Lawyers to handle your car accident case, we can get the report on your behalf.

Property & Liability

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as a result of a car accident or motor vehicle accident, contact Scottsdale Injury Lawyers today. One of our experienced Scottsdale personal injury attorneys is now available to discuss your case. You can reach us at (480) 900-7390. The consultation costs nothing. There is no fee for our lawyers to tell you if you have a case. We only get paid if we take your case and win it or collect a settlement on your behalf.

About the Author: The content of this page was provided by Scottsdale personal injury attorney and civil rights attorney Tony Piccuta. Piccuta graduated with honors from Indiana University-Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana (ranked in the 2018 US News & World Report Top 35). Piccuta has taken and passed the state bars in Arizona, California, Illinois, and Nevada (all on the first try). He actively practices throughout Arizona and California. He is a trial attorney who regularly handles serious personal injury and civil rights litigation. He has obtained six- and seven-figure verdicts in both state and federal court. Super Lawyers has been recognized for six years in a row. He is a member of the Arizona Association of Justice, Maricopa County Bar Association, Scottsdale Bar Association, American Association for Justice, National Police Accountability Project, and Consumer Attorneys of California, among other organizations.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information on this page is an advertisement for lawyers. Reading and reliance on the contents of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are looking for legal advice, you should contact our law firm for a free consultation to discuss your specific case and issues. Car insurance is a rare product that you buy with the hope that you will never use it, but if you are involved in an accident or your vehicle is damaged, it may be necessary to make a claim. An insurance claim is simply a request for financial compensation from an insurance company. Understanding how the auto insurance claims process works, including reporting an accident, working with an insurance adjuster, and possibly getting your car repaired can make filing a claim smoother and less stressful.

Immediately after a car accident, remember to stay calm, call the police, stay put in a safe place, take photos, and if possible, exchange information with the other driver. Car accidents can be traumatic, but applying for car insurance shouldn’t be. Here’s what you should do if you’re filing a car insurance claim:

What Happens If Your Insurance Claim Is Denied In Georgia?

Whether you file a claim over the phone, online, through a mobile app or at an agent, your insurer will likely ask for the following information:

Knowing how you are insured is essential and can set the right expectations for your claim. For example, if you have car rental reimbursement coverage, you may be entitled to a rental vehicle while your car is being repaired. Your policy’s auto insurance deductible tells you how much you’ll pay out-of-pocket for covered claims, while your coverage limits are the maximum dollar limit your insurer can pay out in a certain category.

In addition, gap insurance can cover the difference up to your policy limits if you owe more on the vehicle than it’s worth.

How To Report An Insurance Claim

Your insurance company will appoint an insurance adjuster or more adjusters to investigate your claim. The liquidator will usually contact you within one to three days of submitting the application. Your adjuster will provide an inspection, assess the damage to your car and/or resolve any personal injury claims. In addition, the adjuster could analyze police reports and interview witnesses to the accident.

How Can I Report A Businessowners’ Claim?

Depending on your insurer, you may be asked to get an estimate of the cost of repairs to your vehicle and the repair shop will share that amount with your insurance company. Your insurer will then make an assessment based on information from your adjuster and repair shop.

You have the freedom to choose which workshop will take care of your car repairs. Assuming your claim has been approved, your insurer will issue a payment to you or the repairer after deducting your deductible. If your car is totaled, it is considered irreparably damaged. In this case, your insurer will write you and/or your lender a check for the value of the vehicle after deducting your deductible.

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