Tips for Filing a Vehicle Vandalism Claim

Friday, August 10, 2018

Nothing is more disheartening than heading out to your vehicle and finding that someone has broken into or intentionally damaged it. If you have comprehensive auto insurance, you can file a claim and receive the money you’ll need to repair your vehicle. Unfortunately, just because you have the coverage doesn’t mean your insurance company will pay enough to cover all the damage.

If someone has recently vandalized your vehicle, here are a few tips to help you file a successful auto insurance claim.

Document the Damage and Loss
Snap several photos or videos of all the damage, write down as much information as possible about the damage, and write down a comprehensive list of everything that the vandal stole. Include the date and approximate time of the incident as well as when you discovered that someone had illegally entered, damaged, and vandalized your car.

Ask any neighbors if they noticed suspicious activity and write down the information.

This information is necessary for both the police report and the insurance claim. The more detailed you are, the more this will help the police apprehend the vandal and the insurance company approve your vandalism claim.

File and Get a Copy of Your Police Report
Depending on the circumstances of the vandalism, either you will need to go to the police station to file a report, or the police will come to your home to document the damage. The police will ask for any photographs of the damage and the information you wrote down about the specifics of the incident, including witness statements.

The police will also ask for your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration. After the police have filed the report, get at least two copies. Hold on to one copy and send the other to your insurance provider.

Be thorough when speaking with the police. The insurance company will want a detailed police report to approve your claim. The more information you provide to the police, the better the claim and the more likely you will get a fair settlement.

Pay Your Deductible
Visit a reliable mechanic to have them assess the cost to repair your vehicle. Provide this figure to the insurance company. Also, ask if the provider has a preferred mechanics list. A preferred mechanics list is a list of professionals who the insurance provider has worked with and have provided guaranteed results.

When you take your vehicle for repairs, you will need to pay your deductible. The amount of your deductible will vary, depending on your coverage. Do not fight the insurance provider or mechanic because you do not want to pay the deductible or you feel it is unfair. If you don’t pay your deductible, the insurance provider will not pay to cover the remainder of the repairs.

Know What to Do If Your Insurance Denies Your Claim
Unfortunately, your insurance company can deny your car insurance claim. If this occurs, get a copy of the denial letter to determine the cause. Often, the issue is clerical and is easily fixable. However, if the insurance company denies your claim for any other reason, you have options.

Write a letter asked for a detailed reason for the denial. Once you receive a letter in return, contact an independent adjuster. These individuals are highly skilled and trained to deal with insurance providers, including instances when your insurance company has denied your claim. Hiring an attorney is another option. However, this is often costly.

If you’ve ever been the victim of automobile vandalism, take the necessary steps to ensure your insurance claim is approved. If you have any more questions, contact the professionals at The People’s Choice Public Adjuster.