Understanding Auto Cover Claims

North Texas is bracing for potential travel problems on Tuesday as rain and sleet are forecast.

Read on to learn about your options if you need to file an auto insurance claim.

Understanding your coverage

Texas law requires drivers to carry, at a minimum, liability insurance for property damage if they caused an accident. However, liability coverage alone will not pay for your car to be repaired in an accident.

You may also experience coverage restrictions, especially if your vehicle slides over multiple vehicles due to ice.

“I’ve seen scenarios where they’ve been skidding or driving down the road and they kind of cut off cars in their path,” said Rich Johnson of the Texas Insurance Board, a trade group that represents about 400 insurance companies in the US. Texas. “Think about maximizing coverage [limit]”.

“The first person to file a lawsuit gets paid before the next guy and the next guy and the next guy. Your insurance can only cover the first or second car that gets into an accident, not the ones that hit the road,” Johnson added.

The Texas Insurance Department lists main types automotive coverage, including liability, collision and comprehensive. Collision insurance will pay for the repair or replacement of your car after an accident. Comprehensive also covers damage from something other than a collision, such as a fire or flood.

If you are not sure about your insurance coverage, call your insurance company and ask. Confirm if your policy covers things like towing and rent refunds.

If you need to file a claim, understand that you will be paying out of pocket in the form of a deductible. Depending on your policy, the deductible can range from $250 to $1,500.

“You can pay this deductible upfront, but it must be covered once your company starts pursuing the guilty party and their insurance company,” Johnson explained.

Follow the evidence

Take photos and videos of the damage. Also, take pictures of the other party’s license and insurance information.

“When you exchange information, just take a photo of their insurance card and a photo of their driver’s license,” Johnson said. “Then you know it’s right and you’re not trying to read your handwriting or the other person’s handwriting.”

You will also need the name, address, phone number, and license plate number of the other driver. If there are witnesses, get their contact information.

When you talk to your insurance company, pay attention to who you talked to and what was said.

If a consumer is unhappy with the way a claim is handled, the consumer can file a complaint about an insurance company, agent, or Texas Insurance Department appraiser. TDI notes that it will not be able to decide who is at fault in the accident, or determine the amount of damage.

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