In the aftermath of an accident, theft or other damage to your car, one of the first things you will need to deal with is the damage to your vehicle. Whether you caused the accident or someone else did, many of the choices and actions you need to take to protect yourself are similar. For now, let’s assume it doesn’t matter who is at fault for the accident. Instead, let’s focus on the general steps you need to take to resolve the damage to your car. What follows is an overview of the general steps of making a successful property damage claim. However, for more specific information, we recommend you download “The Car Accident Handbook” app on iTunes where the entire process is discussed in greater detail to help you successfully resolve your claim on your own.

Generally, a property damage claim has the following steps:

1. Determine if the car is a total loss versus a repair?
2. Who determines this?
3. What insurance coverage is available for this claim?
4. Who is paying for it?
5. How long does it take?
6. What other expenses can be or should be reimbursed?
7. What should someone be on the lookout for and what to avoid?
8. What happens once the car is repaired or is totaled?
9. Getting paid.

If the car was towed to a tow yard by the police, it is likely a total loss. If you were able to drive it from the accident scene, it may be repairable. In any event, take pictures of the vehicle and any other vehicles involved in the accident as soon as you can. If the vehicle is sitting on a tow yard, get down there as fast as you can as personal property items tend to mysteriously disappear. If it is drivable, you will need to select one body shop where you want the repair work done to give you an initial estimate. This estimate often is a visual estimate and once they get into the repair they may find additional damage that was not initially visible. What happens next depends on whether the car is a total loss or not. Unfortunately, the consumer rarely has a choice in the matter about whether one’s car is going to be totaled or repaired. Generally, what is cheaper for the insurance company is going to drive the final outcome. As a result, one needs to be prepared and understand the process from start to finish.

Many insurance companies view property damage as the gateway to resolve all claims (property and bodily injury loss) with an insured or claimant. The actual cost to the insurance company of a property damage claim is proportionately less than what it pays out in injury claims every year. As a result, the smart companies promptly adjust property damage claims to build confidence with someone that it ultimately will treat them fairly throughout the entire claims process including on his/her injury claim. The savvy claimant knows otherwise, and understands that this is just a strategy to better position the insurance company down the road. The reason for this approach is that the insurance industry as a whole has already taken a number of steps to minimize its’ losses on property damage claims ranging from controlling costs by contracting with direct repair shops beforehand to gathering information from you that it was not otherwise entitled to because you let your guard down early in the property damage process. Although we are not discussing injury claims, an injury claim is likely affected by what happens during the property damage claim. Keep this in mind as you move through it. Likewise, any property damage claim is not an exact science. There are many moving parts and you will have to remain vigilant, organized and stay on top of it to be successful. Confirm all your conversations with the adjuster with written notes as often as possible.