Filing Car Insurance Property Damage Claims

Property damage claims require finesse and extensive documentation to be considered complete by the insurance company. While some companies will provide you with a form to complete and a list of required documentation, others will provide no such information and merely reject your claim. Below is an explanation of the steps you should take to file a property damage claim.

Property Damage Explained

Property damage includes any and all physical damage to your personal property related to the car accident. If you were involved in the car accident, the costs of repairing your car are your property damages. If the accident occurred on your land, the damage it caused to buildings and anything else situated on your land are considered property damages.

If you are unable to fix a damaged item because of the cost, you must gather information on the average cost of fixing the damage. Most insurance companies will require at least two repair estimates to validate your request for funds. Make sure to notify the company that you are unable to fix this item until payment is received.

An item that is not fixable, i.e. one that is permanently ruined, will be evaluated either for the cost of its replacement or its value at the time of damage, including any depreciation it incurred. This calculation will be set by the company.

Gather All Documents

The first step to filing a property damage claim is to gather all evidence you have of your damages. Copies of mechanic bills, rental car charges, the costs of repairing trees, parts of your home or other related expenses can be used to show the costs of your damages. Also obtain copies of police reports and any other information made in regards to the accident and the property damage it caused.

File Your Claim

If the insurance company has a specific claim form, complete the form and attach any required documents. The company should then acknowledge receipt of your claim and, later, either send you payment for your damages or counteroffer with a lower amount. You have the choice of either beginning negotiations by responding with an alternative amount than the one offered, or just rejecting it outright, which effectively shows that you will only accept the amount stated in your claim.

If the insurance company does not have a form for you to complete, write a letter that details the facts of the accident, the damage done to your property and the cost of repair. Tell the insurance company the basis under which you believe them to be responsible for compensating you for your damages.

Get Legal Assistance

Property damage claims are easily denied or reduced by an insurance company. To avoid being uncompensated for damages caused by an accident contact an attorney to discuss the best method to obtain compensation.