The policyholder does not have to contact the claims’ department. He or she has the right to contact a personal insurance agent. In that way, the same policyholder has obtained a chance to learn about whatever benefits he or she might be able to use.
Benefits enjoyed by policyholders that elect to contact their insurance agent, after involvement in car accident
Authorization for repairs: The existence of that authorization speeds the rate at which the policyholder receives the money for the repairs.
Support for policyholder’s claim that the other driver/party was at-fault for the factors that caused the accident.
Help with obtaining a rental car, if in need of transportation.
A situation that could increase the value linked to contacting an agent, instead of the claims’ department
That would be a situation in which the responsible party had failed to purchase any form of insurance. An agent would know whether or not the caller/policyholder had purchased the uninsured motorist option or collision coverage, as per Personal Injury Lawyers of Red Deer.
In a no-fault state, policyholders must look to their own insurance for assistance with paying their medical bills.
A situation in which the policyholder’s vehicle has been the target of a hit-and-run driver: In that case, the targeted motorist would need to try locating the driver of the vehicle that had left the scene of the accident.
The same motorist/policyholder could provide the agent with updates on that search for the responsible driver. Of course the same motorist/policyholder would need to seek confirmation of the fact that any reported information had been shared with the claims’ department.
A situation where the policyholder needed assistance with attending a scheduled IME: The agent might be in a better position to help with transportation. Remember that the agent could prove especially helpful if the victim/policyholder needed to rent a car.
An agent might know how to arrange for a company vehicle to pickup the scheduled patient/policyholder. That would demonstrate cooperation on the part of both the purchaser of the company’s policy, and the part of those that had been made responsible for authorizing delivery of any promised benefits.
What information should policyholders give their agent, if contacting them after an accident?
Provide agent with the names, addresses and phone number for each of the drivers, and for any passengers.
Provide agent with the insurance information for each of the drivers. Provide details on the name of the insurance company, and the number on the policy.
Offer information on the type of law enforcement agency that had sent an officer to the scene. Had it been a State agency of a County agency?
Give the date and time of the accident; give the location of that same incident.