When & How to File a Commercial Auto Insurance Claim
As a business owner, especially one involved with deliveries and shipments, you should ensure that both you and your employees are safe from accidents.
Even experienced drivers can fall victim to a car accident. You need to have commercial auto insurance to guarantee that your business is covered for any unfortunate incident and to protect your employees from incurring undue financial hardship.
Fortunately, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about commercial auto insurance, including when to use it and how to make a claim.
Read on below to know more.
When should you file a commercial auto insurance claim?
It is impossible to foresee car accidents when driving since you can’t know who you’ll run into or what the road conditions will be like. With commercial auto insurance, you can make a claim if one of your employees is involved in a situation that results in injury, property damage, or theft of a commercial vehicle.
Continue reading to learn more about these instances and gain a better understanding of your commercial auto insurance claim.
Accidents that result in physical injury
If involved in an accident, you must contact your insurance carrier as quickly as possible and file a claim. If someone was physically injured because of the accident, your company’s commercial auto insurance must cover medical bills, missed income due to time off of work, and other injury-related costs.
Accidents that result in damage to commercial vehicles
When another vehicle is damaged and you’re proven innocent, then you’re entitled to file a claim for the damages caused if your commercial auto insurance policy covers it.
Unlike regular commercial auto insurance, however, comprehensive commercial auto insurance ensures that you will receive compensation for damages caused by both man-made and natural disasters. The comprehensive policy also covers third-party liability which is common in accidents involving two vehicles from different drivers.
Accidents that result in a stolen commercial vehicle
Commercial auto insurance also covers thefts, ensuring that you’re protected if your company car is stolen.
Theft of a commercial vehicle is more common than you may think, and it can be catastrophic for your company if not dealt with right away. That’s why it’s important to file the claim as soon as possible to recover from financial loss.
How to correctly file for your commercial auto insurance claim
If in an accident, it’s essential that you and/or your employees properly file a claim.
Here are the steps you need to follow to correctly file a commercial auto insurance claim:
- Immediately call in the needed authorities, such as the police. To make a claim, be sure your employee gets a police first information report (FIR). The police officers will also check the location of the incident and check any damages caused.
- For documentation purposes, your employee must take photos of the vehicle and all damaged items. Along with the police report, your employee must provide the insurance company with these records and t contact information from any potential witnesses or drivers at fault in the accident. This will assist your company in collecting the claim as soon as possible.
- Immediately contact your insurance provider once a police report has been filed and all the needed documents are ready. Be sure your employee informs them about everything that happened before, during, and after the accident.
- It is strongly advised that you reread your coverage plan after the accident to be aware of any coverage exceptions or limitations. This will inform you of the types of reimbursement available to you and help ensure that you are properly compensated for your losses.
Takeaway
It’s critical to learn when and how to file a claim if you need commercial auto insurance. This blog post provided you with a better understanding of the process to make a commercial auto insurance claim.
About Daniels Insurance, Inc.
At Daniels Insurance, Inc., we have a unique understanding of the risks that businesses like yours face on a regular basis. With the backing of our comprehensive coverages and our dedication to customer service and quick claims resolution, your business will be fully protected. For more information, contact us today at (855) 565-7616..