How to File an Insurance Claim for Self-Inflicted Car Damage?
2 Answers
Different insurance companies may have varying procedures for claims, but the basic steps for filing a claim are largely similar. The general process includes: Reporting the incident, damage assessment, signing and reviewing claim documents, calculation and verification, approval, and final settlement. The main steps for filing an insurance claim for self-inflicted car damage are as follows: Incident Reporting: Call the insurance company to report the incident and follow up based on the insurer's instructions; Damage Inspection: An insurance adjuster will assist in investigating the cause, nature, liability, and extent of the damage; Loss Determination: Collaborate with the insurer, repair shop, or relevant parties to determine the scope, items, and amount of the damage; Claim Submission: Collect the necessary documents based on the type of loss and submit them to the insurer for processing; Claim Settlement: After verifying the incident and claim documents, the insurer will compensate the policyholder according to the insurance contract by the end of the month.
I accidentally scratched my car last week and was quite panicked at the time. The first thing I did was find a safe place to pull over and turn on the hazard lights to alert others. Then, I took out my phone and took several clear photos of the scratches from different angles, including the surrounding environment, as evidence of the incident. Immediately after, I called the insurance company's customer service hotline, clearly stating that it was a self-inflicted scratch while driving, not a collision with another vehicle, and provided details like the license plate number, policy number, and the time and location. The customer service representative guided me on the next steps, such as whether to go to a 4S shop for damage assessment and repairs or to upload the information online. After filing the claim, they arranged for someone to handle it, and I just had to wait for the repair notification. However, it's worth noting that filing a claim will result in a slight increase in next year's premium. If it's just a minor scratch, it might be more cost-effective to pay for the repairs out of pocket.
