What is the insurance claim process for self-inflicted taillight damage?
2 Answers
Generally, insurance companies require the incident to be reported within 48 hours. After the accident, the customer should report the claim to the insurance company's claims department. The inspector will complete the on-site investigation and inspection within 1 working day after receiving the notification from the insurance company's internal staff. The claims processor in the claims verification department will review the materials submitted by the internal staff. If all documents and procedures are complete, they will sign for receipt on the handover log; the claim must be processed within 3 working days. Claims within the authority of the property insurance department will be submitted to the claims manager for approval; claims exceeding the department's authority will be escalated level by level. The claims processor will assign a number to the claim that has completed the approval process and submit the payment receipt and calculation sheet to the finance department for fund transfer.
That day I accidentally hit a streetlight pole while reversing, and the rear tail light was shattered. I immediately turned on the hazard lights and got out to check. The insurance process was quite straightforward: first, take photos to preserve evidence of the scene, snapping several shots from the front, back, left, and right, especially focusing on the damaged area of the tail light and the collision object. Then, I called the insurance company to report the incident. The operator asked about the time, location, license plate number, and general details of the accident. About half an hour later, an adjuster arrived at the scene, reviewed the photos to verify the incident, and issued a damage assessment form. The next day, I drove the car to the 4S repair shop, where the repair costs were settled directly with the insurance company. The whole process took three days, but it's important to remember not to move the car in a single-party accident, as it might affect the claim success rate. Looking back now, I'm glad I didn’t panic at the time.
