Photo: Anthony Maw / UnsplashFiling and managing a claim
- Accidents and injury
How to File a Car Insurance Claim Step by Step: First Calls, Documents and Deadlines
Step-by-step guide to filing a car insurance claim after a crash: what to do at the scene, who to notify, first-party versus third-party claims, adjusters, repairs, rental cars and tips to avoid delays and disputes.
3 min read - Accidents and injury
Should You Give a Recorded Statement to an Insurance Adjuster After an Accident?
What a recorded statement is, when you must give one to your own insurer, why you can usually decline one from the other driver's insurer, and how to protect your claim.
5 min read - Accidents and injury
Rental Car and Loss of Use After a Crash: What Insurance Pays and How to Claim It
How rental car coverage and loss of use work after a car accident: your own rental reimbursement, the at-fault driver's liability, daily limits, how long coverage lasts, total loss, storage and disputes.
3 min read - Accidents and injury
Property Damage Claims After a Car Accident: Repairs, Total Loss and Diminished Value
How insurers value damaged cars, what happens when a vehicle is totaled and how to dispute a low offer.
2 min read - Accidents and injury
Auto Insurance Total Loss and Diminished Value: How to Dispute a Low Settlement
How insurers value totaled cars, comparable vehicles, taxes and fees, how to challenge a low offer, diminished value claims, rental coverage and appraisal options.
4 min read
Coverage and limits
- Accidents and injury
When the At-Fault Driver's Insurance Limits Are Too Low: Underinsured Claims and Other Recovery Options
What to do when your damages exceed the at-fault driver's liability limits: underinsured motorist coverage, health insurance, medical payments, personal assets, other responsible parties, policy limits demands and timing.
3 min read - Accidents and injury
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Explained
What UM and UIM coverage pays for, when it applies after a crash and how to make a claim on your own policy.
5 min read - Accidents and injury
No-Fault Car Insurance: How It Works and Which States Use It
How personal injury protection pays your medical bills regardless of fault, lawsuit thresholds and what changes for injury claims.
4 min read - Accidents and injury
How Much Property Damage Liability Insurance Do You Need?
State minimum limits versus real-world costs, why higher limits protect your assets and how to choose coverage.
2 min read - Traffic and DUI
Driving Without Insurance: Penalties and What to Do
State requirements for auto insurance, penalties for driving uninsured, reinstatement steps and how to get back into compliance.
2 min read - Traffic and DUI
DUI and Car Insurance: SR-22 Filings, Rate Increases and How to Find Coverage
How a DUI affects car insurance, what an SR-22 is, how long rates stay high, how to shop for coverage and ways to reduce costs.
4 min read
Denials and disputes
- Accidents and injury
Car Insurance Claim Denied? What You Can Do
Why insurers deny auto claims, how to appeal, when to file a complaint with your state insurance department and when to call a lawyer.
5 min read - Accidents and injury
How to Appeal an Insurance Claim Denial: Step-by-Step for Auto, Home, Health and Life Insurance
A practical process for appealing a denied insurance claim: reading the denial, gathering evidence, writing an appeal letter, deadlines, regulator complaints and when to hire a lawyer.
4 min read - Accidents and injury
Insurance Bad Faith: When an Insurer Wrongly Denies or Delays a Claim
What bad faith means, examples of insurer misconduct, how to document it and your options including complaints and lawsuits.
2 min read - Accidents and injury
Can You Sue After Settling With the Insurance Company?
How a signed release works, the limited exceptions and why you should not settle before the full extent of injuries is known.
4 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Gap Insurance and Underwater Car Loans: What You Owe After a Total Loss or Repossession
How being upside down on a car loan affects you after a total loss or repossession, what gap insurance covers, deficiency balances, how to cancel or claim, and options to avoid or reduce what you owe.
3 min read
Frequently asked questions
How soon should I report a car accident?
As soon as possible, since policies require prompt notice.
Does my insurance pay for a rental?
Only if you have rental reimbursement coverage, though the at-fault driver's insurer may pay for loss of use.
What if the other driver's limits are too low?
You may claim underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy.
Can I choose my repair shop?
Usually yes.
What if my claim is denied?
Ask for reasons in writing, appeal and complain to the state insurance department.