How To File An Auto Insurance Claim In New Jersey

How To File An Auto Insurance Claim In New Jersey

No matter how careful you are behind the wheel, there is a chance that you will be involved in an accident at some point. An accident can be caused by a tree limb falling on your car in your driveway during a storm or someone running a red light as you head to work one morning. No matter what caused the accident or who was at fault, you will need to know how to file an auto insurance claim for your damages.

When Should You File a Claim in New Jersey

You need to contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Claims should be filed for vandalism, if your car was stolen or if the damage was caused by something other than a collision, like a tree limb or fire. Your insurance card will have the phone number of your insurance company or agent and most companies have after hours numbers you can call if your claim occurs at night, on weekends or on a holiday. Some companies will allow you to file your claim online as well. If you only have liability coverage on your vehicle, you will not be able to file a claim for damages to your own car as that only covers damage to someone else’s car or property. Collision and comprehensive coverage will pay for damage to your own car.

Information You Will Need

When you contact the company, you will need to give them your full name and policy number as well as the start and end dates of your policy. They will need to know the date and time the damage occurred as well as the names, addresses and phone numbers of any drivers, passengers and witnesses. You will also need to provide driver’s license and plate numbers for all vehicles involved. If the damage was the result of a collision, the insurance company may also require a copy of the police report which often has all the information included regarding the drivers and vehicles.

NJ Claims Process

Once your claim is filed, it will go through a process at the insurance company. First, the case will be assigned to a professional, normally an adjustor, who will handle the claim. The adjustor will review your coverage with you and review the details of the accident. An evaluation will be made which could include inspection of your car, reviewing injury reports and taking a sworn statement from you about the circumstances. They may offer you an initial payment to cover the cost of a rental car and other expenses. When the investigation is complete, the company will offer you a settlement. You may want to discuss your options with an attorney depending on the severity of the accident. Once you accept the settlement, the case is closed.

Injury Claims

If you were injured in an accident that was not your fault, your injuries may be covered by the other drivers’ bodily liability coverage. In a no-fault state, your personal injury protection coverage pays for your injuries. You may also have additional medical payments coverage that could cover the cost of injuries suffered by other passengers or if you were injured as a pedestrian. Your uninsured/underinsured coverage will also cover you if the other driver does not have enough insurance to pay for your injuries or has no insurance at all. If you are injured, take photos of the scene and any visible injuries. Visit a doctor immediately to document any injures. Be aware that accident injuries may not become evident until a day or so after the accident, so if you develop additional problems, see a doctor right away. Document any time missed from work, paid transportation to medical appointments and any other expenses such as medical equipment.

After an accident, it is critical to file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. If you are injured, visit a doctor immediately and follow all instructions you are given. Document all details of the crash and any injuries. If you have been in an accident and need assistance, schedule an appointment today.

Should You Replace Your Car Seat After An Accident?

Should You Replace Your Car Seat After An Accident- (1)

If your child is at an age where they must use a car seat, the seat is probably in your vehicle the majority of the time. If you are involved in an accident, even if your child is not occupying the seat, it is possible that you will need to replace the car seat, depending on the severity of the crash. When you are involved in a vehicle crash, forces inside the car can be extreme. This means that the car seat will be affected by crash energy whether it is occupied or not.

NHTSA Recommendation Changes

In the past, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recommended replacing car seats even when it is in a vehicle that suffered a relatively minor crash. In an effort to reduce the number of children riding without restraint while parents replace one involved in a crash as well as to reduce costs to consumers and insurance companies, NHTSA revised the recommendations somewhat. The agency, using several international studies, reports that car seats continue to protect children after being involved in a minor crash even when there is visible stress in the seat. Today, NHTSA recommends that car seats be replaced following moderate to severe crashes even if the child is not occupying the seat at the time. Unless there appears to be serious damage to the seat after a minor accident, the seat does not need to be replaced.

What is Considered a Minor Crash?

It can be difficult to determine if an automobile collision is considered minor, moderate or severe. NHTSA defines a minor accident involving a car seat as one in which the vehicle can be driven away from the scene and that the door nearest the car seat was undamaged. No injuries should be reported by passengers and air bags should not have deployed. If all of these criteria are met and there is no visible damage to the car seat, you do not have to replace your car seat. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of a new seat. If your child was close to growing out of their current seat, they may cover the cost of the next level seat.

Disposing of the Old Seat

After you have replaced the car seat, you will need to dispose of the old one. Contact your local waste agency to see if they offer a car seat recycling program. If they do not, you need to make the seat unusable by anyone else. Remove all detachable parts and cut all straps from the seat. Dismantle it as much as you can before disposing of the seat. There are people who search through residential garbage looking for yard sale and thrift shop items. By dismantling the seat, you insure that a child will not be placed in danger if someone should attempt to use it after you toss it out.

Even after a minor accident, your car seat may need to be replaced in order to keep your child safe. Your local police agency can inspect the seat for you should you have any questions about its safety.