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CLAIMS
New York Claims A listing of NY Claim Phone Numbers
Florida Claims A listing of FL Claim Phone Numbers
What To Do After A Loss
  • Automobile Accident
    • Make sure everyone is O.K. — call for medical assistance if necessary.
    • Notify the police about the accident.
    • Exchange contact and insurance information with other parties.
    • Get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
    • Photograph the scene prior to moving the vehicle(s) if this can be safely done.
    • Take reasonable steps to move your vehicle from the scene and to safeguard it and any personal property contained in the vehicle from subsequent damage.
    • Make no commitments for payment. Do not discuss fault or blame at the scene.
    • Do not discuss the details of the accident with anyone except the police, your insurance agent, claim adjuster, or your attorney.
  • Property Damage
    • Protect yourself and others. Always be careful before entering a damaged building. If your property has sustained serious structural damage or if there are any doubts about its safety, contact local government officials to determine the status of your home before entering.
    • Do not alter the condition of your house before it is inspected by the adjuster. However, you should make emergency repairs to prevent further damage.
    • Prepare an inventory of damaged property. Include descriptions of each item, their age, and their replacement value.
    • Preserve all items being claimed in as good a condition as possible.
  • Please Note: While not an exhaustive list, this information is provided to assist you should a loss occur. Nothing contained within this material should be construed as providing legal advice nor does it imply coverage will be afforded. Every claim submitted must be reviewed and evaluated based upon the applicable policy of insurance and the facts of loss.
TIPS TO EXPEDITE A CLAIMS CALL
 In general, the claim reporting process is facilitated by providing your insurance company with your policy number and as much detail on the loss as possible. You may choose one of the tips to expedite the call; however, please do not delay your report to your insurance company if certain pieces of information are not readily available to you:
  • If You Were Involved In An Automobile Accident
    • Have your policy number available when you report the loss.
    • Provide information concerning your vehicle including its year, make, model, license plate number, and the area of damage it sustained. Your Insurance Company will also need to know where the vehicle can be located if it was towed from the accident scene. Please include the street address and telephone number of the facility where your vehicle is located.
    • If the driver of your vehicle was different from the owner, your insurance company will need the full name of the operator along with his/her address, date of birth and driver's license number.
    • Have information on the other party/parties involved in the accident including the name and address of the owner and operator (if different) of the other vehicle(s). Please include the year, make, model, license plate number, and the area of damage sustained of the other vehicle. The name of the other party's insurance company would also be helpful.
    • If the police were at the scene of the accident, your insurance company will need to know which department responded and if there were citations issued to any of the involved parties. Also, it would be helpful to know the officer's name and the police report number, if available.
    • The date, time, and location of the accident including street names and any landmarks.
    • Names and addresses of any witnesses to the accident.
    • Names and addresses of any injured parties, along with a description of the nature of the injuries.
    • Please do not delay your report to your insurance company if certain pieces of information are not readily available to you.
  • If Your Vehicle Was Stolen
    • Notify the police that your vehicle has been stolen.
    • Have your policy number available when you report the loss to your insurance company.
    • Provide your insurance company with the date, time, and location from which your vehicle was stolen, including street names and any landmarks.
    • Have information concerning your vehicle including its year, make, model, license plate number, color, and the area of damage it sustained, if any. If the vehicle has been recovered, your insurance company will need the current location of the vehicle. Include the street address and telephone number of the facility where your vehicle is located.
    • If there was an arrest made, provide your insurance company with any suspect's names, if available.
    • Please do not delay your report to your insurance company if certain pieces of information are not readily available to you.
  • If Your Vehicle Was Damaged In An Incident Other Than Collision (ex. Vandalism, Fire, Glass)
    • Have your policy number available when you report the loss to your insurance company.
    • Provide information concerning your vehicle including its year, make, model, license plate number, and the area of damage it sustained. Your insurance company will also need to know where the vehicle can be located if it was towed from the accident scene. Please include the street address and telephone number of the facility where your vehicle is located.
    • The date, time, and location of the incident, along with the details of how the damage was sustained.
    • If the driver of your vehicle was different from the owner, your insurance company will need the full name of the operator along with his/her address, date of birth and driver's license number.
    • Have names and addresses of any witnesses to the incident. If your car was vandalized, please provide your insurance company with the names of any suspects, if available.
    • Please do not delay your report to your insurance company if certain pieces of information are not readily available to you.
  • If You Have A Homeowner Claim
    • Have your policy number available when you report the loss to your insurance company.
    • Provide a description of the occurrence with as much detail as possible.
    • The date, time and location of the incident.
    • Provide a description of the damage or loss to your home or your personal property with as much detail as possible.
AUTOMOBILE CLAIMS PROCESS
  • Step 1 - Report an Auto Claim: This step is the process whereby a Claims Representative From Your Insurance Company will gather the full detailed information needed to process your claim. Generally this is done by phone, however, some companies are now offering fax, email and online submissions. Check our Claims Contact Pages For a Listing.

  • Step 2 - Appraisal of Damage: Once you have reported your claim and coverage for damage to your vehicle is verified, arrangements will be made by your insurance company to have one of their appraisers to inspect your vehicle. The appraiser will write and appraisal of damage for any accident-related damage. Most Insurance Company Appraisers will visit you at your home, workplace or repair facility. The appraiser will generally contact you ahead of time to arrange a mutually convenient time and date to inspect your vehicle. After the vehicle has been inspected by an appraiser and it is considered to be repairable, the appraiser will either deliver the appraisal of damage to the vehicle owner or mail you a copy. If your vehicle is not repairable, it will be considered a "total loss."

  • Step 3 - Payments: Your Claim Adjuster will review what coverage is available for your claim. Once coverage is determined and the amount of your loss has been established, payments are made less the amount of your chosen deductible for that particular coverage part. If there is another individual(s) responsible for the accident and the resulting damage to your vehicle, your insurance company will attempt to recover your deductible. They will contact the responsible party’s insurance carrier and provide the appropriate follow-up to attempt recovery of funds due to you as quickly as possible.

  • Step 4 - Repairs: When you receive the appraisal of damage from the appraiser, you may choose to begin repairs at that point. Be aware, the initial appraisal of damage is not a guarantee of payment. This is because the amount of the payment will be reduced by the amount of your chosen deductible or for damage on the appraisal that is not related to this loss. Most companies allow you to take your appraisal of damage to any auto repair shop of your choice. Some companies have specific repair shops they use, generally expediting the process. Your original appraisal is for "visible damage" seen during the inspection. Although every attempt is made to be as thorough as possible, at times additional "hidden damage" is discovered during the repair process. If this happens, the repair facility should contact the original appraiser who will then come to that facility to write a supplemental appraisal for any loss-related damage.
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