Insurance reports on Auto Insurance & Fender Benders;
Your involved in a traffic accident and you conclude that it is very minor, the other driver
is “honest and rational,” and that you two can settle it without involving your insurance
company.
Weeks or months go by and you two are still haggling over the cost of fixing a taillight
and trunk lock.
• The other driver’s neck begins to hurt - 1,840,000 drivers were injured in 2003.
• The number of passengers in the other driver’s car increases - 857,000 passengers
were injured in 2003.
• Suddenly, several people are seeking medical treatment.
• In good faith, you’ve had your car fixed, and now there is no preserved evidence
of how minor the accident was - your defense no longer exists.
• Claims have been made for bodily injury that can’t be fully investigated.
You have not reported the accident to your insurer.
• You have denied your insurance company the opportunity to provide an adequate
defense on your behalf.
• You have released your insurance company from what they wanted to provide –
YOU MAY HAVE BREACHED YOUR CONTRACT.
• You are financially obligated for 100s of thousands of dollars in medical bills for
the other driver and alleged passengers. The economic cost of traffic crashes was
$230.6 billion in 2000 according to National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration‘s estimates for reported and unreported crashes.
• This scenario rarely plays out to the ugly end, as the first hint of a scam causes
most people to report the fender bender. But often it’s too late for an insurance
company to best-defend its insured. The result is that the accident costs the
insurance company much more money to resolve, and everyone’s insurance costs
go up.
Mercury Insurance reports on Auto Insurance & Fender Benders –
Know What To Do Before It’s Too Late
• At the scene of an auto accident, your family’s finances could hemorrhage if longterm
considerations are not addressed immediately after you care for the injured
and call 911.
Five financial tips on effectively reporting an auto accident from Mercury Insurance:
1. Leave a note with your name and contact information for the owner(s) of any
unoccupied vehicle(s) that you damaged.
2. Call the police. In some areas police authorities may not come to every accident
scene. However, you should attempt to notify the police. You should also be
aware that most policies require notification of police within a specified time
period if the accident is a hit and run.
3. Understand that any accident should be reported that involves any damaged
property - either to your car or something you hit.
4. Obtain from all involved drivers, passengers and witnesses:
• Names
• Insurance company/policy #
• Addresses
• Telephone Numbers
• License Numbers
5. Have a disposable camera in each vehicle you own and take photos:
• Damage
• License plates
• Vehicles’ positions
• Nearby traffic controls
• Relevant visual obstacles
• Vehicle identification numbers
• Driver’s license number
(Also record in writing and cross-reference with vehicle registration)
Mercury Insurance reports on Auto Insurance & Fender Benders –
What To Expect When You File An Automobile Insurance Claim
-Tips From Mercury Insurance-
IMPACT ON PREMIUMS:
The process of establishing auto insurance premiums is very complex, and each accident
is analyzed with considerations for many variables, including but not limited to fault,
history of accidents, moving violations, and auto insurance claims, as well as age, car
type and much more.
is “honest and rational,” and that you two can settle it without involving your insurance
company.
Weeks or months go by and you two are still haggling over the cost of fixing a taillight
and trunk lock.
• The other driver’s neck begins to hurt - 1,840,000 drivers were injured in 2003.
• The number of passengers in the other driver’s car increases - 857,000 passengers
were injured in 2003.
• Suddenly, several people are seeking medical treatment.
• In good faith, you’ve had your car fixed, and now there is no preserved evidence
of how minor the accident was - your defense no longer exists.
• Claims have been made for bodily injury that can’t be fully investigated.
You have not reported the accident to your insurer.
• You have denied your insurance company the opportunity to provide an adequate
defense on your behalf.
• You have released your insurance company from what they wanted to provide –
YOU MAY HAVE BREACHED YOUR CONTRACT.
• You are financially obligated for 100s of thousands of dollars in medical bills for
the other driver and alleged passengers. The economic cost of traffic crashes was
$230.6 billion in 2000 according to National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration‘s estimates for reported and unreported crashes.
• This scenario rarely plays out to the ugly end, as the first hint of a scam causes
most people to report the fender bender. But often it’s too late for an insurance
company to best-defend its insured. The result is that the accident costs the
insurance company much more money to resolve, and everyone’s insurance costs
go up.
Mercury Insurance reports on Auto Insurance & Fender Benders –
Know What To Do Before It’s Too Late
• At the scene of an auto accident, your family’s finances could hemorrhage if longterm
considerations are not addressed immediately after you care for the injured
and call 911.
Five financial tips on effectively reporting an auto accident from Mercury Insurance:
1. Leave a note with your name and contact information for the owner(s) of any
unoccupied vehicle(s) that you damaged.
2. Call the police. In some areas police authorities may not come to every accident
scene. However, you should attempt to notify the police. You should also be
aware that most policies require notification of police within a specified time
period if the accident is a hit and run.
3. Understand that any accident should be reported that involves any damaged
property - either to your car or something you hit.
4. Obtain from all involved drivers, passengers and witnesses:
• Names
• Insurance company/policy #
• Addresses
• Telephone Numbers
• License Numbers
5. Have a disposable camera in each vehicle you own and take photos:
• Damage
• License plates
• Vehicles’ positions
• Nearby traffic controls
• Relevant visual obstacles
• Vehicle identification numbers
• Driver’s license number
(Also record in writing and cross-reference with vehicle registration)
Mercury Insurance reports on Auto Insurance & Fender Benders –
What To Expect When You File An Automobile Insurance Claim
-Tips From Mercury Insurance-
IMPACT ON PREMIUMS:
The process of establishing auto insurance premiums is very complex, and each accident
is analyzed with considerations for many variables, including but not limited to fault,
history of accidents, moving violations, and auto insurance claims, as well as age, car
type and much more.
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