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Claims guides
Aftermarket vs OEM parts in insurance repairsWhy insurers write estimates with aftermarket, recycled or reconditioned parts, whether they are safe, what the rules say, and how to get factory parts.Choosing a repair shop: direct repair programs and your rightsYour right to pick the body shop, how insurer direct repair networks work, the trade-offs of each choice, and what to ask any shop before it starts work.First-party vs third-party claimsThe difference between claiming on your own policy and claiming against the at-fault driver's insurer, and how to choose when the other driver caused the crash.Full glass coverage and zero-deductible windshield repairWhich states require zero-deductible glass claims (Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina), where it's optional, and how to handle a cracked windshield.Hit-and-run accidents: how to file a claimWhat to do after a hit-and-run, which of your coverages pay for the car and for injuries, and the reporting deadlines that can make or break the claim.How long does a car insurance claim take?What sets the pace of a car insurance claim, the deadlines state rules impose on insurers, and what you can do to keep a claim moving.How to file a car insurance claim, step by stepThe steps from the scene of the accident to the final payment, what to have ready when you call, and the deadlines insurers must meet.Repair delays, parts shortages and running out of rental coverageWhy repairs drag on, how rental reimbursement limits run out, what the at-fault driver's insurer owes for loss of use, and what to do when rental days end.Should you file a claim or pay out of pocket?How to weigh a small claim against your deductible and a possible rate increase, which accidents you should report anyway, and how fault changes the math.Hail, flood and storm damage: filing a comprehensive claimHow comprehensive coverage handles hail, flood, wind and falling-tree damage, what to do before and after a storm, and why flooded cars are often totaled.What to do if your car is stolenThe steps to take in the first hours after a car theft, how a comprehensive theft claim is settled, and what happens if the car turns up later.Windshield and glass claimsWhich coverage pays for a chipped or broken windshield, the states that waive the deductible, how glass claim networks work, and why camera calibration matters.Working with an insurance adjusterWho the adjuster works for, what you owe your own insurer versus the other driver's, how to handle estimates and statements, and when to push back.The appraisal clause: settling a dispute over valueHow the auto policy appraisal clause resolves disputes over repair costs or a total-loss value, what it costs, and when it beats negotiating or suing.Diminished value claimsWhy a repaired car can be worth less after a crash, when you can claim that loss from the at-fault driver's insurer, and how to document the claim.EV battery damage and insurance claimsWhen insurance pays for a damaged EV battery and when the warranty does, why minor pack damage can total a car, and what to do after a crash, flood or fire.How insurers calculate actual cash valueHow insurers value a totaled or stolen car from comparable vehicles, adjust for mileage, options and condition, and add taxes and fees.How to negotiate a total loss settlementA step-by-step way to challenge a low total-loss offer with the valuation report, your own comparables and receipts, plus the escalation options if talks stall.Salvage and rebuilt titles explainedWhat salvage, rebuilt and nonrepairable title brands mean, the inspections needed to drive a rebuilt car, and how a brand affects insurance and resale.What happens if your car is totaled and you still owe moneyHow a total-loss payment is split with your lender, what happens when you owe more than the car is worth, and how gap and loan payoff coverage help.What happens when your car is totaledHow insurers decide a car is a total loss, how state thresholds differ, what the settlement includes, and the paperwork from offer to payment.Insurance bad faith explainedWhat counts as insurer bad faith, how first-party and third-party claims differ, the state laws behind them, and what to do if your claim is mishandled.How to appeal a denied car insurance claimGet the denial reason in writing, test it against your policy, send a documented reconsideration request, then escalate to appraisal or your regulator.How to file a complaint against a car insurance companyWhen and how to complain to your state insurance department about a car insurer, what to include, what regulators can and cannot do, and other options.Small claims court after a car accidentWhen to sue the at-fault driver in small claims, state dollar limits, who to name, the evidence to bring, and how to collect if you win.Statutes of limitations for car accident claimsHow long you have to sue after a car accident in every state and D.C., for injuries and vehicle damage, plus the exceptions and shorter deadlines to watch.When to hire a lawyer after a car accidentWhich crashes you can handle yourself, when an attorney is worth the fee, how contingency fees work, and what to do if you are the one being sued.Why car insurance claims get deniedThe most common reasons auto insurers deny claims, from lapsed policies and excluded drivers to business use and late notice, and how to avoid each one.Accidents in a rental car: whose insurance paysHow your auto policy, a credit card benefit and the rental company's waiver split the bill after a rental car crash, and the fees that slip through.Accidents while driving someone else's carWhy the owner's insurance usually pays first when you crash a borrowed car, when your own policy steps in, and the exclusions that can leave no coverage.What to do after an accident with an uninsured driverSteps to take at the scene, which of your own coverages pay for your car and injuries, and your options for collecting from a driver with no insurance.Comparative vs contributory negligenceHow states split blame for a crash, from contributory negligence to pure and modified comparative fault, with a state-by-state list and worked examples.Dash cams and car insuranceHow dash cam video settles fault and exposes staged crashes, why it rarely cuts your premium, where you can mount one, and how to save footage.Do you need a police report after a car accident?When state law requires you to call police or file a crash report, why a report helps your insurance claim even when optional, and how to fix errors.Do you pay a deductible if the accident was not your fault?No deductible if the other driver's insurer pays; you pay it upfront if you use your own collision coverage, then get it back through subrogation.What information to exchange after an accidentWhat to collect from every driver, owner and witness after a crash, what state law requires you to share, and what to do if a driver won't cooperate.How fault is determined in a car accidentHow adjusters assign fault using traffic laws and evidence, how shared-fault rules change what you collect, and how to dispute a fault decision.No-fault vs at-fault statesHow no-fault and at-fault systems differ, which states use each, the lawsuit thresholds in no-fault states, and what it means for your claim.Scams that target drivers after an accidentThe scams that follow a crash, from tow trucks you did not call to runners, clinic referrals, fake adjusters and buried deductibles, and how to avoid each one.Subrogation explained: how your insurer recovers your deductibleHow your insurer pays your claim, then pursues the at-fault driver to recover its money and your deductible, and what you must do to protect that recovery.What to do after a car accidentA step-by-step plan for the scene, the first day and the following weeks after a crash, so you stay safe, meet legal duties and protect your claim.