What to Do When You Are Involved In a Car Accident

One of the wisest decisions you can make is to insure your motor vehicle with the best auto insurance in Rochester, NY. Knowing that you are covered is certainly reassuring when you run into a situation like an auto accident and your local professional agent will be with you through the claims process. Even if it is the first time you have had to file a claim, everything can go smoothly with the help of your agent.

Here are the steps you need to follow when you are involved with a car accident whether or not there is personal injury or property damage.

  • Start your claim: This is the logical first step if you are safe and sound. If you are injured, your first action is to go to the hospital, even if the injury seems minor. You start your claim by informing the agent who provided you with the auto insurance in Rochester, NY as soon as possible.
  • Contact the claims adjuster: After you have filed a claim, a claims adjuster or handler will take charge of looking at your car and determining the degree of damage. Keep important information like your policy number, insured’s name (as written on the policy), claim numbers and police reports handy. The adjuster will examine your car, look over your insurance coverage, and decide the best course of action.
  • Car repair mechanic: There are several car repair options available. You can direct the insurance agent and claims handler to a mechanic or body shop you trust or they can also find a repair shop they trust. In either case, your car should be repaired in the best possible manner. A good mechanic and body shop will get your vehicle up and running in no time.
  • Settling the insurance claim: The last part of the claims process is settling the claim. It depends in part on the type of accident in which you have been involved. If it was minor, it will obviously take less time than if it was severe. The number of vehicles and people involved, the degree of injuries, and who is at fault, will also play a big part in the speed of settling the claim.

These are the steps that are generally involved in the claims process for an auto accident. Once the repair bill comes, you will surely be glad you have the appropriate auto insurance in Rochester, NY. You should inform the issuing agent as quickly as possible to make sure the claim gets filed. Remember to drive safely and hope that you can avoid dealing with the trauma of an auto accident.

How to Get the Best Auto Insurance Policy?

When it comes to auto insurance, some people buy it simply because it’s mandatory but often they don’t pay attention to the details. However, we all should be careful and knowledgeable when buying auto insurance. There is so much more to an auto insurance policy than just being required by law. When you are looking for an auto insurance, it’s always a good idea to  go a local insurance agent for the best deals and coverage. For instance, if you are from the Rochester, NY area you should look for auto insurance in Rochester, NY. This will help you in the long run as your insurance agent will be easily accessible when you need assistance with a claim or need to change your coverage.

If you are looking for auto insurance in Rochester, NY, here are a few things you should keep in mind to obtain the best available auto insurance policy.

Third Party Property Damage & Bodily Injury Insurance

Third party insurance is one of the mandatory parts of an auto insurance policy. You should know what things are covered by your third party insurance.  “Third Party” refers to other people and their property,  This coverage covers your legal responsibility to other for damage to property and injury to their person.

No Fault Insurance

Most states, like NYS, also mandate No Fault Insurance. This coverage provides funds for medical expenses, wages and other certain expense that you and your passengers incur as a result of an injury while using your auto.

Collision Coverage

This part of the policy covers damage to your auto regardless of whose fault the accident was.  A deductible normally is applied to any payment meaning that you will incur part of the cost of repairs yourself.

Comprehensive Cover

Comprehensive cover also applies to your auto and covers damages caused by events other than what is covered by “collision coverage”.  For instance, it will pay for damages to your car from accidental fires, thefts, striking an animal and other causes.

Bundling and Deductibles

Bundling (buying, for example, auto and homeowners insurance though the same agent) helps you save money.   Buying your auto policy with a higher deductibles,primarily with Collision and/or Comprehensive is another good way to lower premiums.

This article should help guide you when you are looking to buy auto insurance. If you are looking for auto insurance in Rochester, NY, choosing a Rocheter, NY Independent Agent is certainly a good thing to consider.

Expert Tips for saving Money on Car Insurance

Car insurance is no longer a luxury item to only people who can actually afford to pay for its heavy coverage. Today, each state government has its own policies for every driver that comes or lives in its domain. These policies can vary from one place to another, but the one thing that is common in all these schemes is the fact that the owner has to purchase a car insurance from a reputed dealer. Here are a few tips which will help you to save a lot of money while purchasing your car insurance.

#1 Consolidate Your Policies

Placing your renters or homeowners insurance along with your car insurance in the same company can help you to get great discounts. You can save up to 15% on your auto cover and the best part is that you will have only one company to make all your deals.

#2 Increase Your Deductible

The deductible refers to the amount of money an owner has to pay towards the claim before the car insurance company would pay towards it. Increase the deductible will help you to reduce your premium by 10% to 20%. For example, if you will raise your deductible from $200 to $500, then you will save about 30% on your auto cover.

#3 Get Safety Discounts

 Buying a car with features like airbags, power breaks and automated seat belts will help you to get heavy discounts on auto covers. Most of the insurance companies will give you the benefit for including all these safety features in your car.

#4 Get Security Discounts

Many insurance companies will provide you with heavy sized discounts if your car has features like anti-theft GPS system with alarms and other high tech devices like electronic disabling and automatic locking.

#5 Drop Optional Coverage

 Dropping the extra policies which include the optional coverage can help you to save a lot of money. These policies are not important and are just add on without any major benefits.

#6 Buy a Low Profile Car

Buying a car which is expensive and vulnerable to thefts often costs more to get insured. These cars need high maintenance, hence the auto insurance companies charge large amount of money to insure these cars. So, it’s always to buy a low cost / profile car so that you can insure your car in low cost.

#7 Maintain a Good Credit Rating

Many insurance companies will check your credit ratings and if your credit ratings are good, you might get lower premium offer which will help you to save large bucks without any major problems.

#8 Pay Coverage in Bulk

Paying your auto coverage in bulk will help you to get rid of extra interest rates on the premium. This will help you to save a lot of money in the long run.

#9 Ask For Low Mileage Discounts

If you have maintained a low mileage in the past few months, then you are entitled to avail the low mileage discounts which can vary from 5% to 15% on the total insurance cover. You can use public transport once in a while to maintain a steady mileage.

#10 Compare The Rates

It is highly important to compare the rates quoted by various companies. You can compare the rates and services of different dealers online which will help you to save big and choose the best deal to satisfy all your needs.

Apart from all above tips to be followed while insuring your car, it’s also very important to book practical driving test to avail extra discounts offered by the government on new policies.