Auto Insurance Claims: Top 10 Items You Need When You Make A Claim

Top 10 Items You Need When You Make A Claim:

 
1. Who did I have an accident with? Be sure to get complete information from the other party(ies) involved. This means copying down their address, driver’s license #, date of birth, and ask for their phone number.  In addition, obtain their insurance information including, the company, policy #, agent if there is one, the policy begin and expiration date and their phone #. You need to make sure that you have as much info as possible to give your insurance company; this will help get your claim resolved as fast as possible.

2. Were there any witnesses? Was there anyone who saw the accident happen? You want to make sure that you get information from anyone who saw the accident. This will assist the insurance companies to determine who is liable for the accident.

3. Were the police called? If the police called or showed up, make sure to get the name and badge # of the officer and a report number. It may take your insurance company up to 3 months to get a police report, so be sure you take the information but don’t rely on the insurance company getting the information.

4. What kind of vehicle or vehicles were involved in this accident? You want to make sure that you get the vehicle year, make and model, the license plate #, and VIN number for each vehicle involved.

5. Where did this happen? Get the intersection or street that the accident happened on. Also, you want to make sure that you know how many lanes are on each side of the street, if the street or streets are 1 way or 2 way, the type of striping on the pavement within 100 feet each direction of the loss, i.e. is it a solid, double yellow line, a white line, etc. Also, you want to know where each vehicle impacted, what lane you and the other car were driving in just before the accident, the direction of travel for each vehicle, and if there were any signs posted that control traffic flow.

6. How many passengers were in each vehicle? Take note of how many people were in each of the vehicles involved. Once you know, make a brief note of their description or name including: ethnicity, gender, weight, height, etc. This will help if you are the victim of a staged accident or other type of insurance fraud since people sometimes mysteriously are reported as an occupant of the vehicle when they were not present. This is not common, but if it ever does happen, this will help you avoid being a victim.

7. What type of condition was the car in right after the accident? Was the vehicle drivable? Where is the damage? Is there any additional damage on the vehicle not related to the accident? If there is additional damage on the vehicle not related to this accident, be sure to tell your insurance company.

8. Where do I want to get my vehicle repaired? If you have a shop in mind, have that information with you. If you don’t, ask around, your friends might have a good recommendation. Otherwise, you can ask your insurance company if they have a repair program. If they do have one, be sure to ask about the program’s warranty, cost, and if there is a benefit to using it.

9. Write down all the information. Record all the information that you have gathered and keep it in a safe place. This is to assist you if there is a problem with the claim. When you report it, be sure to write down who you spoke with, your claim #, and what if any promises were made. This will make your life easier if someone says something and then it doesn’t happen.

10. Take pictures of the accident right after it occurred. Take a photo of your vehicle and the other vehicle(s) involved including all 4 corners. Also, if you can get the other party in the photo, that will help in the event that either insurance company needs help identifying the other party involved.

If you have a claim that needs to be filed, the above items are good to gather since it will make the process easier and assist your insurance adjuster to resolve your claim at a faster pace. The insurance adjuster(s) you will deal with each have a job, it is to resolve as many claims as they can in the least amount of time possible. As a result, the more information you can give him or her, the smoother the process will be.

by Darryl Lee

New York (NY) Teen Auto Insurance Laws, Rates & Requirements

In the state of New York, the following risky driving habits are among the leading causes of traffic accidents: speeding, unsafe or too-frequent lane changing, not using turn signals, tailgating, not yielding the right of way, ignoring traffic signals, and driving while impaired by alcohol or chemicals. New York teens engage in some of the same dangerous behaviors, but they have a number of other  issues working against them – especially in the beginning stages of driving. Teens are known for driving while talking on a cell phone or texting. In addition, lack of education (which can lead to all of the causes listed above), driving at night, and driving with too many passengers are top causes of teen car crashes in the state of New York.

In an effort to reduce the number of teen car accidents, the state of New York has its own version of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL). New York’s Graduated Driver Licensing program follows a three step process to help educate teens about the rules of the road and teach them about the dangers of unsafe driving practices. The program also comes with a number of restrictions to help keep teens and other drivers on the road safe during the process.

Continue reading to learn more about New York’s teen driving laws and the consequences for violating them.

New York Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements
In the state of New York, all beginning teen drivers must complete three steps before receiving a full unrestricted license. These include:

•    Learner’s License
•    Intermediate License
•    Unrestricted License

Learner’s License
You must be a at least 16 years of age to receive a learners license. As of February 22, 2010, you will be required to hold the learner’s license for 6 full months. During this time, you must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving time to include 15 hours at night.

Intermediate License
The intermediate license or “restricted license” is available to teens 16 ½ or older that have satisfied all of the requirements of the learner’s license.

Unrestricted License
You must be 17 years old to obtain an unrestricted license. If you have not taken a driver education course, you must be 18 years of age. To obtain your unrestricted license, you must satisfy all of the requirements of the intermediate license, meaning, you must have a clean driving record, by following the laws of the intermediate license to the letter. Please review the next section “New York Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement” for details.

To obtain a learner’s license, you must be at least 16 years of age and:

•    Provide two forms of identification as proof of identity
•    Provide a social security card
•    Provide a signed consent form
•    Take a written knowledge test
•    Take a vision test
•    Pay the $10 application fee
•    Pay the $12.50 document processing fee

To apply for your intermediate license and you will have to show proof of identity. If you have completed a driver education course, you will have to provide your certificate of completion as well.  

New York Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement
In the state of New York, learner permit holders must be accompanied by a licensed adult age 21 or older, at all times. Permit holders younger than age 18 cannot transport passengers under 21, unless accompanied by a licensed adult age 21 or older. In addition, permit holders are prohibited from driving on streets located within any New York City park.

Intermediate license holders are prohibited from driving between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.. In addition, you may transport only 1 passenger under the age of 21 at any given time. If you violate any of the conditions of New York’s Graduated Driver Licensing program, you may lose your driving privileges and/or your licensing will be delayed.

New York Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws

In the state of New York, cell phone use while driving is prohibited for all drivers unless you are using a hands-free device. Texting while driving will be against the law beginning November 1, 2009. The fine for violating the text messaging law will be $150. Currently, the hands-free cell phone law is treated as a secondary offense, meaning, you must be stopped for another traffic violation to receive a citation for violating the cell-phone law.

New York Teen DUI Laws

In the state of New York, it is a crime for a teen to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02% or higher. A BAC of 0.02% is as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% is all that is needed to convict a New York teen of DUI. If you get caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher, you risk losing your driving privileges until you turn 21. If you get caught driving under the influence of any other substances such as marijuana or even prescription drugs, you risk the same penalties.

New York Teen Auto Insurance Requirements

It doesn’t matter if a vehicle is registered in a teens name or the parent’s name, in the state of New York you must carry minimum liability coverage in the amounts of $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury, $25,000/$50,000 uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist bodily injury, $10,000 for property damage, and $50,000 personal injury protection (PIP). Because the risk of having an auto crash is significantly higher during a teen’s first year behind the wheel, New York auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits. If you plan to add a teen driver to your existing auto insurance policy, instead of purchasing a separate policy, keep in mind that your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year. The average increase is around $2,171 a year.

Michelle Burton is a published author and contributing editor for Trouve Media, Internet Brands, and Publications International, Ltd.

Critical factors that affect auto insurance rates

Each state has its own set of rules and regulations pertaining to auto insurance. The Insurance commissioner is the one who decides the minimum required for each state. Since, every state wants its residents and pedestrians to be safe on the roads, the rules have been written specifically for each state in order to protect the motorists on the highways. Hence, purchasing an auto insurance policy is in everybody’s interest and is mandatory.

Some states decide the mandatory minimum liability rates according to the financial responsibility laws. In these states, the driver has to show proof that he/she has the financial resources to make the payment in case of any damage that is caused by the driver of the vehicle.

There are a number of factors that affect auto insurance rates such as:

• Age – According to the available statistics, drivers who are below 25 years of age are considered to be high risk and are charged hefty premiums. However, the married individuals are considered to be far more responsible compared to bachelors and spinsters and hence the premiums charged are much less. The drivers who are over 50 are generally charged lesser premiums as they have enough experience on the roads and are considered to be mature drivers.
• Gender- Women are generally considered to be safe drivers when compared to men and hence the premiums charged are always much lesser than what the men have to pay.
• Area – The place where you live in will also make a difference when the premium is calculated. If you live in an area where there is lot of traffic, then there are more chances of being involved in an accident. Hence, the premiums that are charged will be much higher when compared to the premium charged if you were to live in a rural area, where there are lesser number of vehicles on the roads and fewer accidents.
• In case you stay in an area that has a high crime rate, then the premiums are bound to go up. Theft and vandalism prone areas are considered to be high risk areas and the number of damages and claims are always high. All this is taken into consideration while writing the policy.
• Driving record – Having a clean driving record is certainly advantageous. It will help in sending the message that you are a responsible driver and that will help in fetching some discounts. However, a bad record with a lot of violations will indicate that you are a high risk driver and the premiums will shoot up.
• Model and make – If you have to insure a car that is an expensive one, then your premiums will skyrocket. However, insuring a cheap car or insuring an older model will not cost much. In fact, insuring a sports car is very expensive and is likely to burn a hole in your pocket. This is due to the fact that these cars are more likely to get stolen.

It is important to bear all these things in mind while shopping for auto insurance. Shopping online and comparing quotes is the best way to go about it.
By Hayden Krueger

New York city has the highest auto insurance rates in the US

According to a study released by an online auto insurance quote provider, New York City is the most expensive city in the whole of US, to buy auto insurance.

The Tri-State members New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have the highest auto insurance premiums throughout the country. There are a number of factors that have contributed to these high auto insurance rates such as, poor traffic conditions, high crime rates, as well as high population density. New Jersey has continuously been ranked number one for 3 years in a row. But New York as well as Connecticut has also ranked among the top five expensive states to purchase auto insurance.

These high auto insurance rates are mostly concentrated around the city metropolitan area in New York. But the auto insurance rates in rural Connecticut and downtown Brooklyn are really staggering if you have to say the least, stated James Shaffer from Online Auto Insurance quote. But the auto insurance rates in New York have always been ranked as the highest in the country, while the rural areas offer rates that are relatively inexpensive. For instance, the average driver in North Dakota pays just $554 on auto insurance annually. But the state average for auto insurance in New Jersey is $1,184.

So, the simple solution to save on auto insurance costs according to Mr. Shaffer is to move out of New York City area. He states that instead of spending that amount on auto insurance it would be better to just live outside this area and take public transportation instead. This carries a lot of weight especially if it is coming from someone who has been a life-long insurance agent.

However, it is not exactly a hopeless situation for the residents of New York. The online auto insurance quote website offers a number of ways where one can save on auto insurance premiums. The first step is to ensure that you keep a high credit score, maintain a clean driving record, and drive a safe automobile. Another way to cut costs is by combining the insurance policies with the rest of the household members as well.
There is a lot of data that has been compiled by the website and it includes some of the findings from information that is made publicly available by IIS or Insurance Information Institute as well. There are plenty of tips available on these websites and consumers can use them to purchase affordable auto insurance.

Richard Burton
Published: Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Most Expensive Place to buy Automobile Insurance in the US is New York!

As per recent studies conducted by online auto insurance quote it has been found that the New York City Metropolitan area’s auto insurance rates are the highest in the US.
According to the study New York is the most expensive state to purchase auto insurance in 2011. The Tri-State members that are New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey have the highest average insurance cost throughout the nation. There are a number of contributing factors such as high crime rates, high population density, as well as poor traffic conditions. These have caused the auto insurance rates to shoot up. New Jersey has ranked No. 1 in the US for the 3^rd consecutive year. Connecticut and New York have are also ranked among the top five expensive states to purchase auto insurance.
The high insurance rates seem to be concentrated more around the New York metropolitan area. Auto insurance quote owner James Shaffer has stated that the difference in auto insurance rates in rural Connecticut and Brooklyn are staggering. The insurance rates in New York have always been high, while it is relatively inexpensive in rural areas. For instance, in North Dakota, the average motorist has to pay only $554 per annum to purchase auto insurance but for New Jersey the state average is $1,184 per annum.

Shaffer also added that if people look to save costs on auto insurance they should probably not live in New York City area. He feels it would be cheaper to take the public transportation. He has been an insurance agent all along and it does mean a lot if it is coming from him.

But all is not lost and there are ways and means that residents of New York can make a saving by visiting the company’s website. Here visitors will know some of the best ways to cut down their auto insurance costs even if they live in areas that have exorbitant insurance rates.

Some of the ways to cut the costs are by maintaining a high credit score, good driving record, driving a safe vehicle, and bundling up insurance policies along with the other members of the household.  Some of the other studies that have been done recently include the ‘ten best insurance companies,’ ‘most and least expensive cars to insure’ and the ‘ten most stolen automobiles.’  In this technology-driven age, everything is available at your fingertips including how-to guides, tools, and tips that can help consumers find cheaper auto insurance with the help of these websites.

By Richard Burton
Published: Friday, July 8th, 2011