Guide to Filing Own Damage Claim in Case You Meet with An Accident

Posted on: Aug 6, 2021 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Guide to Filing Own Damage Claim in Case You Meet with An Accident

No matter how careful a driver you are, accidents are a possibility you need to be aware of. So, in case you cause or meet with an accident, first make sure that everyone gets the necessary medical care. Then, you need to inform your insurance company about the incident. You should also file an FIR with the nearest police station. If any person who was injured in the accident asks for your third-party insurance details to file a claim, provide them with the details but respectfully decline any settlements and let the insurance company take care of the matter. In the meantime, note the damage done to your own car and check car insurance online for the process to file a first-party claim to get your car fixed.

How to claim car insurance for own damage?

Whether you have a standalone policy covering own damage or comprehensive insurance, you can make a claim for the damage caused to your insured vehicle in an accident.

If you meet with an accident, you must notify your insurer within a specified timeframe. Next, you have to submit all necessary documents to proceed with the own-damage car insurance claim process. The insurer will appoint a surveyor who will visit the accident site and analyse damages. Once the surveyor submits the report for approval, you can make a claim on your car insurance policy. You can choose between a "cashless" and "reimbursement" claim settlement and proceed accordingly.

However, you must have clarity on how to claim car insurance for own damage.

Car insurance claims can be made in two manners for own damage cover. You can either make a cashless claim through a network garage of your insurance company or get the car repaired from an out of network garage and then make the claim for reimbursement of the repair costs you paid out of pocket.

Making a cashless claim:

After you have had an accident, you should call up the insurance company to let them know about the event. They will inform you about the nearest cashless garage, and if your vehicle has been immobilised, they will arrange for your car to be towed to the service centre. Once in the workshop, your car will be assessed for the damage and the workshop will seek approval from you and the insurance company. Upon getting approval, the workshop will fix your car. You will have to pay the compulsory deductible and for any other things not covered in the policy and take your car home. The workshop and the insurance company will take care of the claim amount between them. The documents that you need to provide include claim form, copy of insurance policy, your driving license copy, vehicle registration copy and copy of the pollution under control certificate.

Making a post-repair reimbursement claim:

Imagine that you don’t want to take your car to a network garage for some reason. In such a case, you will have to get the car fixed at a garage of your choice and make all the repair related payment in advance. The insurance company will allow you to check CAR INSURANCE ONLINE form where you can file a claim for repair cost reimbursement and the money will be sent to your bank account after the claim is processed. The documents you will need to submit as proof include all original repair bills along with copies of your car registration, insurance policy, pollution certificate as well as a copy of your driving license.

Documents required to make own damage claim

You must submit the following documents to make a claim:

• Duly filled and signed claim form

• Road tax receipts

• Copy of your own damage policy document

• Your Driving Licence or the person in the driver’s seat at the time of the incident

• Copy of the car’s Registration Certificate

• A copy of the FIR filed with the police

• Address of the place where the vehicle is inspected (if not a network garage of the insurer)

• Preliminary estimate of the repair costs from the garage/service centre

• Original repair invoices and payment receipts

• In case of any bodily injury, copies of all medical receipts

• Clear photographs of the damaged car, showing the extent of damage

• Copy of the original receipt for any additional costs incurred

Things to Remember While Raising Own-damage Car Insurance Claims

You must keep in mind the following factors when making a claim for own damage car insurance:

• You must file a claim within the timeframe mentioned in your policy; otherwise, your insurer may reject the claim.

• You must note the Registration Number of the third-party car involved in the accident.

• Take photographs and/or videos of the damaged car and the place of the accident.

• Jot down the names and contact numbers of eyewitnesses present at the accident site. This could be useful at the time of a police inquiry.

• If the dents and scratches are minor, refrain from making a claim, as it will impact your No-Claim Bonus.

• Do not move/tow the vehicle from the accident site without obtaining permission from the insurer or the police.

• If a third-party claim is being filed, you should provide all relevant information about your third-party insurance policy.

• You must inform the insurance company as soon as you can about the accident as well as the fact that a third-party claim is being filed.

• Do not accept any settlement offers and let the insurance company take the lead in case of an accident.

• Ensure that all relevant documents are provided on time.

Finally, keep in mind that accidents are something which you can control, but not always. So, in case you get involved in one, contact your insurance company for detailed guidance and do what is right.

Conclusion

Knowing how to claim car insurance for own damage is essential. You can choose any option (i.e., cashless or reimbursement) as per your preference and need. Remember the points listed above for a hassle-free settlement of your car insurance claim.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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