Insurance Terms to Know Following a Car Accident
As with any industry, there’s always lingo that’s unintentionally or intentionally used causing confusion to outsiders. The insurance industry is no different. Following an accident, a whole dictionary of terms will be thrown at you. Your main concern is getting your car fixed and getting it fixed as soon as possible. For that reason, we’ve compiled the most widely used terms by insurance providers following your collision.
Act of God: An ‘Act of God’ refers to damage caused by a natural disaster such as a tornado, fire, storm, flood, earthquake or essentially anything out of human control. If your car or truck was damaged by an Act of God, you can use your coverage under “comparative negligence.”
Additional Insured: Was someone else driving the vehicle at the time of the accident? If this individual is listed on your policy, this is known as ‘additional insured.’ This means they’re not the main driver but are covered in the event of an accident.
Carrier: The carrier is either the insurance company or insurance carrier.
Claim: A claim is what you file following the accident. In the claim, it will include requests and demands based on the insurance policy. As a person who files a claim, you will be known as the ‘claimant.’
Deductible: The deductible is a fee that must be paid toward the damaged before the insurance is paid out. Insurance companies will include a deductible or set fee.
Coverage: Your policy will detail the benefits and protections in the event of an accident or Act of God. When you first signed up for insurance, your coverage should have been explained in terms of what is ‘covered’ in the event that your vehicle requires service.
Exclusions: This is what isn’t covered in a policy. For example, if the reason you crashed was due to a race, your insurance may cover for the damage. Other exclusions include property damage or unusual situations.
Loss: A loss is an amount your insurance company will pay out for the claim.
No Fault: When something like the other driver was driving without insurance, you can use the ‘no fault’ portion of your policy to cover the damages.
Steering: This term is used to describe an illegal activity where the insurer will attempt to steer a person into using their preferred provider. Most insurers and body shops will make connections and agreements to bring in more business to one another’s respective companies. If your insurance provider is saying you MUST use this body shop, know that this is not true. You can go to the body shop of your choice.
For All of Your Collision Repair Needs, Visit Sergio Lewis Body Shop
If the insurance company is giving you a headache, bring your worries to us! Our job as your collision repair team is to ensure a smooth process. Having the upfront information you need to feel at ease is our first task. Once we thoroughly examine the damage, we’ll be able to move forward with the repairs.
At Sergio Lewis Body Shop, we handle everything from alignment repairs to glass repairs, and essentially any work needed to bring your car or truck to superior condition. Contact us today to learn more!
