Report
a Claim
During
regular business hours (M-F 8:30 am to 5:00 pm) – call
our office
| |
801-619-6288
(request your acct. manager or agent)
OR |
For off-hours claims reporting, call the carrier directly
per the number below:
| Allied
|
800-282-1446 |
| AutoOwners |
888-252-4626
(888-CLAIMAO) |
| Employers Insurance Group |
208-336-4210 |
| Encompass |
800-588-7400 |
| Federated |
1-888-333-4949 (888-FED-4949) |
| Hartford |
800-327-3636 |
| OCG |
800-366-6446
(800-FONOHIO) |
| Progressive |
800-776-4737
(800-PROGRESSIVE) |
| Republic
Indemnity |
503-293-5735 |
| Safeco |
800-332-3226 |
| St.
Paul Travelers |
800-252-4633
(800-CLAIM33) |
| State Auto |
800-766-1853 |
| Utah Builders Insurance Company |
800-289-4502 www.scclaimsut.com |
| WCF |
(of
Utah) 801-288-8285
(or go on-line to www.wcfgroup.com) |
| Zurich |
800-987-3373
(or go on-line to www.zurichna.com) |
If your
carrier is not listed above, please call 801-597-1732,
leave a
message, and someone will be paged to contact you immediately
Recommendations when filing a claim:
Filing Your Automobile Insurance Claim
Every year millions of consumers file claims with their
insurance agents and insurance companies. The trauma
of an auto accident or theft is stressful enough without
having to worry about your insurance claim. The following
information, prepared by the Independent Insurance Agents
of America, is designed to help you understand the claims
process. Your independent insurance agent will be there
to ensure your claim is handled promptly and fairly.
Taking It To The Road
There are two basic types of claims. The first involves
loss or damage to your automobile. The second type is a
liability claim which arises when someone else suffers
an injury or damage to their property because of something
you did or did not do. For example, if you run a stop sign
and hit another vehicle, you could be liable for the damages
to that vehicle and any injuries that may have occurred.
Liability claims may result in a lawsuit against you. To
cover these two key areas, most auto policies subdivide
the coverage into the following categories:
Auto liability covers damage to property of other people
and injuries to the people.
Collision covers damage to your own vehicle.
"Other than Collision" or "Comprehensive" coverage
pays to repair damage to your car caused by fire, theft,
vandalism, natural disaster or similar events.
Medical payments, termed "good faith" coverage,
guarantees immediate medical payments for you, your passengers
and other parties involved in the accident, regardless
of who is at fault. The point is to help someone who is
injured get the necessary medical attention and deal with
the issue of fault and insurance later.
Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverages protect
you if you are injured in an accident with others who themselves
do not carry enough insurance or have no liability insurance.
Is That It?
No. There are additional coverages such as towing and
temporary replacement vehicles available for your auto
insurance policy. In fact, just about any contingency can
be covered by adding clauses and conditions known as endorsements
or riders to a standard policy.
After An Accident
For several reasons, the first conversation you have should
be with your independent insurance agent. Chances are your
policy includes a stipulation that the insurance company
be notified promptly. Conversations with others about the
situation can inadvertently waive some of your rights in
the case.
When The Time Comes
If you do suffer property
damage or injury or incur liability, it is time to file
a claim. You will be asked to fill out
a claim form -- the formal document on which you request
benefits to be paid according to the terms of the policy.
Be complete and supply as much detail as you can and, of
course, be truthful. All this will help your adjuster do
his or her job and therefore speed the process. To support
your claim, it may be necessary to supply the insurance
company with some documentation such as a "proof of
loss" form, auto repair and medical bills, and a copy
of the police report. Be sure to keep a copy of your claim
and any associated paperwork for your records. You may
need to refer to it in the future.
What Is A Deductible?
When you file a claim for property or loss, the payment
made by the insurance company is subject to a deductible.
Basically, when you purchase your insurance policy, you
agree to pay the first specified amount of any damage as
your share of the cost of repair or replacement. The insurance
company adjusts its rates accordingly, charging less for
those who agree to pay a larger first share -- or deductible.
For example, if your car should sustain damages costing
$2,000 to repair and you have a deductible of $250, you
would pay $250 and the insurance company would pay $1,750.
What Is A Claims Adjuster?
Once you have reported your claim to your agent, he or
she will contact the claims adjuster of your insurer --
usually within the hour. The adjuster will begin the settlement
process, the length of which will depend on the cooperation
of the other party, if any. While some claims are relatively
easy and straightforward, others are more complicated.
Your adjuster is charged with investigating the claim and
then making a recommendation to the insurance company.
The recommendation can be to accept the claim and pay the
full amount requested, accept part of the claim and make
a partial payment, or refuse the claim and make no payment.
The insurance company will then make a decision regarding
your claim and notify you of its final decision.
A Final Note
The amount of compensation offered can vary according
to the adjuster analysis of your claim. Keep in mind, if
you feel it is too low, you do not have to accept the first
amount offered. While you may have to do some research
to prove a higher payment is valid, it may be worth it.
Your independent insurance agent should be able to assist
you in reaching a fair settlement.
Filing Your Home Insurance Claim
Every year insurance companies pay more than $75 billion
in claims resulting from losses suffered during fires,
hurricanes, robberies, dog bites, falls and other incidents.
The trauma of a burglary or severe damage to your home
is stressful enough without having to worry about your
insurance claim. This following information, prepared by
the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA), is
designed to help you understand the claims process. Your
independent insurance agent will be there to ensure your
claim is handled promptly and fairly.
Where Do I Start?
There are two basic types of claims. The first involves
loss or damage to property such as your home or your possessions.
The second type is a liability claim which arises when
someone else suffers an injury or damage to their property
because of something you did or did not do. For example,
if someone falls while visiting at your home, you could
be liable for any injuries that may have occurred. Liability
claims may result in a lawsuit against you.
On The Home Front
If you own your home, chances are you have a homeowners
insurance policy. Homeowners insurance covers damage to
your property -- structures and your possessions -- within
specified limits. This coverage extends to possessions
that you carry for personal use when you travel. You usually
have coverage for damage to both structure and personal
property caused by:
Fire or lightning
Windstorm or hail
Explosions
Riot or civil commotion
Aircraft
Vehicles
Smoke
Theft or vandalism
Weight of ice, snow or sleet
Freezing of a plumbing, heating air conditioning or other
such household system.
If you should experience damage from an above listed caused,
you can make temporary repairs (e.g., to the roof) to
prevent further damage to your property. Remember to
keep all receipts for the insurance company, and do not
sign any deals with contractors or lawyers until you
have spoken with your independent insurance agent.
Suitable Coverage
Unfortunately, there are other
risks involved in everyday living besides loss or damage
to your property. That old
tree you kept meaning to remove may come crashing down
during the next storm right on your neighbor garage. Or
that pesky skateboarding teenager down the street may pick
your sidewalk to have a spill and break a bone. If you
find yourself involved in a situation where you may be
held liable, it is important to notify your independent
insurance agent. You may talk to the "nice" parents
of the skateboarder or with your neighbors, but leave the
insurance discussion and negotiating up to the professional.
For several reasons, the first conversation you have about
the incident should be with your independent insurance
agent. Chances are your policy includes a stipulation that
the insurance company be notified promptly. Plus, in chatting
about the situation you can inadvertently waive some of
your rights in the case. More importantly, by inviting
the insurance company in early in the process, the company
can sometimes offer an early settlement that avoids a lawsuit.
After all, the insurance company has a team of experts
-- claims adjusters, appraisers, lawyers, and medical experts
-- who have probably been down this road before and know
exactly how to get mutual satisfaction for both sides without
straining neighborly relations.
Is that It?
No. There are additional coverages such as flood and earthquake
damage for your home. In fact, just about any contingency
can be covered by adding clauses and conditions known as
endorsements or riders to a standard policy.
When The Time Comes
If you do suffer property damage or injury or incur liability,
it is time to file a claim. You will be asked to fill out
a claim form -- the formal document on which you request
benefits to be paid according to the terms of the policy.
Be complete and supply as much detail as you can and, of
course, be truthful. To support your claim, it may be necessary
to supply some documentation. Pictures of your tree atop
the neighbor garage, details on the sofa, chairs and CD
collection destroyed in the fire, and so forth. The better
you document your property beforehand with pictures, receipts
and other evidence, the more likely your claim will be
processed smoothly.
Figuring Out The Costs
How much financial settlement the insurance company offers
you of course varies with the situation. However, for property
damage, it helps to know that there are two basic ways
to value your property:
Actual Cash Value - The replacement cost of the item minus
depreciation. For example, a new television set may cost
$500. If your 7-year-old TV set gets damaged in a fire,
it might have depreciated 50%. Therefore, the televisions
remaining value would be $250.
Replacement Coverage - The cost of replacing an item without
deducting for depreciation. So the current cost for a TV
set with features similar to the 7-year-old one damaged
by fire would determine the amount of compensation. If
the similar new television costs $500, that would be the
amount of your coverage.
You may want to check your policy to see which kind of
coverage you currently have. For example, if you would
prefer replacement coverage and do not have it, this
coverage can be added to your policy for an increase
in your premium of about 10% to 15%.
What is A Deductible?
When you file a claim for property or loss, the payment
made by the insurance company is subject to a deductible.
Basically, when you purchase your insurance policy, you
agree to pay the first specified amount of any damage as
your share of the cost of repair or replacement. The insurance
company adjusts its rates accordingly, charging less for
those who agree to pay a larger first share -- or deductible.
For example, if your home should sustain damages costing
$2,000 to repair and you have a deductible of $250, you
would pay $250 and the insurance company would pay $1,750.
What is A Claims Adjuster?
Once you have reported your claim to your agent, he or
she will contact your insurer claims adjuster -- usually
within the hour. The adjuster will begin the settlement
process, the length of which will depend on the cooperation
of the other party, if any. While some claims are relatively
easy and straightforward, others are more complicated.
Your adjuster is charged with investigating the claim and
then making a recommendation to the insurance company.
The recommendation can be to accept the claim and pay the
full amount requested, accept part of the claim and make
a partial payment or refuse the claim and make no payment.
The insurance company will then make a final decision regarding
your claim and notify you.
A Final Note
The amount of compensation offered can vary according
to the adjuster analysis of your claim. Keep in mind, if
you feel it is too low, you do not have to accept the first
amount offered. While you may have to do some research
to prove a higher payment is valid, it may be worth it.
Your independent insurance agent should be able to assist
you in reaching a fair settlement.
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