Auto car insurance

What You Should Know about Auto Insurance Claims

Every day across the United States, drivers are involved in vehicle accidents. This type of incident can be scary for both the driver and any passengers that he or she has in the car. It is important for people to understand how to deal with accidents and the subsequent auto insurance claims that follow. Don’t be affected by Clash of Clans blasting loudly on your son’s MacBook that you drive down the wrong lane and get into an accident!

Never Leave the Accident Scene

Car accidents can be both minor and major. It is against the law to flee the scene of an accident where property damage has occurred. The first thing to do is to attempt to move the car to the shoulder of the road if the accident is minor. This helps to prevent anyone from getting injured as they exit the vehicle. The hazard lights should be on and orange triangles and flares should be set out to warn other drivers in advance that an accident is up ahead.

Next, the driver should check on any passengers and then go to the other vehicle if there is one and check on the other driver and their passengers. If anyone has any visible injuries or is in any pain then an ambulance should be immediately called to the scene. The police should also be called so that they can document the scene.

Compile the Evidence

When there is property damage or medical injuries involved, photographs need to be taken so that claims adjusters can help to piece together what happened. Every vehicle accident is different so it is important to have photographic evidence to see who or what caused the collision to occur.

Exchange Insurance Information

Each driver should exchange their insurance information with each other and the police officer who is writing the report. It is crucial to the insurance claims process that the information is accurate. Sometimes people who are at fault for collisions give out fake information to avoid getting into trouble with their insurance company. Make sure to ask for the driver’s license information and copy down the license plate number as well. Witness statements should be taken by the police so that they have a fresh eyewitness account of what events transpired before the incident.

Call Your Auto Insurance Company

The day of the event, individuals should call their insurance company to open a new claim. Adjusters are usually available most of the day and evening. It is important for people to do this quickly because hesitating can delay the process to collect compensation for any auto repairs or medical bills that need to be paid for.

A claims adjuster will issue the driver a case number. It takes about a week or two for the claim to be processed depending on the type of accident and the damage that was done. It is a good idea for individuals to build their own case file with copies of the documents that they receive. If the car cannot be driven, then a rental car is usually covered by insurance while the adjuster is working on determining the amount of compensation that the policyholder should receive.

Meet the Claims Adjuster

When meeting with a claims adjuster, people should tell the truth. People who lie often get caught which can lead to serious consequences. Even being ruled the driver at fault is not the end of the world. Accidents happen and in some states, there are no-fault insurance laws so even then insurance companies will pay out money to each driver regardless of their actions at the time of the collision. A settlement will be offered to policyholders at the end of the claims process. A person can take the settlement or appeal it if they so choose to.

Driving at night

How to Make Your Car Safer for Night Driving

According to research, traffic accidents occur more at night than during the day. Night driving has proven to be a challenge to many drivers around the world. This is because at night there is darkness and drivers depend on daylight for better visibility on the road.
Below is how to make your car safer for night driving.

 

Clean the headlights and taillights

The first step you need to do is clean the headlights, taillights and the indicators. To accomplish this well you need the following items: toothpaste, a rag, and water. Squeeze some toothpaste onto the cloth and proceed to scrub the headlights, taillights, and indicators. You can either use a circular motion or a back to forth motion. Once you have scrubbed the dirt off, you need to rinse the headlights, taillights, and indicators with water.

After rinsing, you should see the headlights, taillights, and indicators are clean and visible.

Clean your windshield and back window

You need a rag and a windshield cleaning solution. Start by spraying the cleaner on the windshield. Scrub lightly with the rag to remove dirt. Rinse with water to ensure the cleaning agent is gone. Wipe to dry. You need to always ensure that your windshield wiper fluid tank is always full with clean liquid.

After you have finished with the windshield, you need to clean the back window as well. This will provide visibility of drivers behind you.

Tweak the aim of your headlights

Headlights light the way during the night providing proper visibility to the driver. It is therefore important to have the lights properly aimed. This will enable the driver to see better at night and be able to spot obstructions early.

Turn your lights at medium beam at night

When driving at night, it is important to ensure that your lights are set at the medium beam. Setting the headlight full will reduce visibility for other oncoming drivers and may lead to an accident.

You need to also avoid flashing other drivers with full headlights signifying they lower their beam. This might lead also to an accident. While driving behind another driver at night, do not use high beam. You need to set them at medium mode so as not to distract the driver in front of you.

Have your car serviced

You need to have your car checked for any problems. Areas that need to be checked include the braking system, electrical system, wiper blades, spare tire and other areas. Having this done early will remove any problems that might lead you not to be in control of your car leading to an accident.

Have reflective triangles in your car

The reflective triangles are very important, especially during the night. In case of a problem with your car, you need to set one reflective triangle few feet ahead of your car and also set the other a few feet behind your car. This will warn other oncoming drivers. You can also carry a flashlight and a handheld car fire extinguisher just in case.

Kids in the car
Having sleeping kids in the car is a dream. But what if they are distracting you with their Clash Royale PC game? It can be very dangerous. As such, try to remove all electronics because the sound and visual backlight coming from the back seat may distract you – especially when you’re feeling already so sleepy at night!
how to safely cross train tracks in your car

How To Safely Cross Train Tracks In Your Car

Car Safety Tips for Railroad Crossings

Working trains are still very much a part of everyday life, despite the popularity of more modern forms of transit. When approaching railroad tracks, always be expecting a train whether you regularly see them or not. Train and car accidents are not overly common, but when they do occur they tend to be deadly. Remember that train cars are often wider than the railroad tracks and it will take a train much longer to stop than your vehicle.

Railroad crossings require drivers to pay special attention to all of their surroundings. As you approach the tracks, take note of the number, if any, of cars ahead of you. If there is a line, wait patiently for each car to cross the tracks and then begin your process. Be careful not to blindly follow the cars ahead of you as this could cause you to become stuck on the tracks. You don’t want to end up like someone on a wobbly subway surfers programme!

Approach all railroad crossings slowly and come to a complete stop approximately 15 feet from the rails. Look both ways down the tracks for any signs of oncoming trains. Gates, lights, and bells are typical warning signs you will see at a railroad crossing. Pay special attention to these warnings and do not ignore them. These warnings are mechanical and subject to malfunction so do not rely solely on them either. Be sure to keep your window rolled down as you examine the tracks so you can listen for the train whistle as well. All trains do not necessarily blow their whistle at every crossing, but it is a common practice. Now that you have thoroughly checked out the situation, look both ways down the tracks again.

If, after following the steps above, you have confidently determined there are no approaching trains you may proceed over the tracks. Cross the tracks slowly and continue monitoring the scene for any changes in the warning signs. Once you have started moving, don’t stop even if there is a change. If you are driving a manual shift vehicle you will want to use the highest gear your car allows you to use without shifting. Shifting gears while on the railroad tracks could cause your vehicle to stall.

Do not attempt to beat a train by speeding up and reaching the crossing first or crossing quickly as it approaches. The weight and speed of the train are more than you might guess and could be life-threatening. If you encounter a train stopped that is blocking the crossing, do not attempt to go around the train. Turn your vehicle around and choose a different route to take. If another route is not an option, look on the train cars for a phone number or company name. Call the company to let them know there is an issue and let your local police department know as well.

Crossing railroad tracks can be a part of everyday life that drivers take for granted. Use these tips when crossing to stay safe.

Car insurance

Tips for Making Hassle Free Car Insurance Claims

Tips for Making Hassle-Free Car Insurance Claims

Car Insurance claims usually exist and are made for two specific reasons. Firstly, a car accident can be quite expensive and without insurance claims, we would have to be fixing cars directly out of our pockets. On the other hand, whenever people are involved in a two or more car accident, it is sometimes quite difficult for either party to come to a conclusion about who was at fault. In situations like these, insurance companies, with the aid of police reports are able to mediate the situation and fix whoever car that qualifies to be fixed. This article will provide a brief illustration of the procedures involved in filing a car insurance claim.

Whenever the accident isn’t severe enough to involve the police, neither party goes to the police department, a report will be absent from the claim. As a result, it becomes your sole responsibility to get detail information about the accident and the credentials of the other party involved. For best results, however, it works to your advantage to have a police report filed. Because without one, it will end up being your word against theirs.

If you have a comprehensive car insurance policy, the insurance will usually fix your vehicle regardless of the situation. However, based on whatever information you provide (and police report if available), they will pursue the insurance of the other party for total reimbursement, if your insurance thinks they were at fault. If it is obvious that you were at fault, the worst that might happen to you is a hike in your insurance policy. Generally, when claims are filed, the insurance company exists to get the hassle out of the procedure and get you and your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.

One a few occasions, your insurance company might not pay out to fix your car or the other party’s. This usually occurs whenever there are discrepancies in the accident claim or the policy itself. So, one must be extremely careful that the entire truth is being represented at the start when the policy was created and when the details of an accident are being recorded. For example, if you were drunk and fled the scene of the accident, misrepresenting that information in your report to the company gives them the right to deny your claim and void your policy.

In the case of a severe accident where people are injured, it is essential and possibly mandatory to have the police involved. In cases like these, word of mouth and witnesses will not be enough. However, documentation and signature from the relevant authorities will be necessary to substantiate your claim. There will be many instances where blame being tossed around and expenses covered, so either the insurance company involved will want the responsible party to stand the consequences. What if the accident was because your son was playing Mobile Legends on MAC laptop, distracting you with loud music? How do you reveal that fact for the police?

All these processes will be mitigated if one has comprehensive insurance. When filing a claim, this is what ensures that the insurance company fights on your behalf and or covers the damage to your vehicle. Comprehensive coverage is even more essential when your vehicle is damaged while unattended. In a situation like this, it is useless to file a claim without comprehensive insurance because the other party involved is unknown.