What should I know about insurance claims?

Asked by: Whitney Hickle  |  Last update: December 2, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (52 votes)

Insurance Claim Tips
  • First, know your policy -- know what's covered, what's excluded and what the deductibles are.
  • If you have to file a claim, do so as soon as possible. ...
  • Provide complete, correct information. ...
  • Keep copies of all correspondence. ...
  • Ask questions. ...
  • Don't rush into a settlement.

What do I need to know about insurance claims?

How do insurance claims work?
  • The names and contact information of those involved.
  • The date of the incident.
  • Insurance policy numbers of those involved.
  • An incident, accident, or medical report.
  • Photos if you've been in an accident, suffered damage to your home or property, or experienced a comprehensive, no-fault incident.

What should you not do when making an insurance claim?

Insurance Claim Don'ts

Don't admit or assign fault. Whether you are speaking with another driver at the crash scene, police officers or insurance adjusters – never admit or assign fault. The reality is that fault can only be determined after a careful analysis of the evidence.

What to know before making a claim?

10 Things to Consider Before Filing an Insurance Claim
  1. File Quickly. It's best not to wait to file a claim. ...
  2. Show Your Knowledge. ...
  3. Be Diligent. ...
  4. Find Experts to Help. ...
  5. Make a List. ...
  6. Work With Insurance Adjusters. ...
  7. Document Insurance Adjuster Interactions. ...
  8. Report and Document Damages.

What not to say when filing a claim?

Some key phrases to avoid saying to an insurance adjuster include:
  1. “I'm sorry.”
  2. “It was all/partly my fault.”
  3. “I did not see the other person/driver.”

When Should You File an Insurance Claim!?

15 related questions found

What are the 3 most common mistakes on a claim that will cause denials?

Here, we discuss the first five most common medical coding and billing mistakes that cause claim denials so you can avoid them in your business:
  • Claim is not specific enough. ...
  • Claim is missing information. ...
  • Claim not filed on time (aka: Timely Filing)

How to win an insurance claim?

How To Beat Insurance Companies
  1. Take detailed photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and injuries.
  2. Gather witness statements and contact information.
  3. Obtain the other party's insurance details and file a police report.
  4. Keep records of medical treatment and preserve relevant documents.

What is the downside of filing an insurance claim?

It could increase your premiums

When determining your premiums, insurance companies consider your likelihood of filing a future claim — which could cost them money. The higher your perceived risk, the more likely you are to pay more in premiums. Your claims history tends to play a direct role.

What are the top 3 most important aspects to a claim?

The three most important aspects of any medical claim include:
  • Basic patient information, including full name, birthday, and address.
  • The provider's NPI (National Provider Identifier)
  • CPT codes that reflect the provided services.

How can I maximize my insurance claim?

Taking photos, saving receipts, and recording interactions with the insurance adjuster will strengthen your claim. Stay Organized: Keep all claim-related documents in one place. Legal teams can help you compile documents like medical bills, accident reports, and witness statements to present a strong case.

What not to say to insurance claim adjuster?

Eight things NOT to say to an insurance adjuster are:
  • admitting fault,
  • anything about your injuries,
  • anything on the record,
  • speculating about the crash,
  • that you do not have a lawyer,
  • providing unnecessary information,
  • accepting a settlement, and.
  • sharing medical records.

Should I file an insurance claim if I am not at fault?

Always File a Claim, Regardless of Who Was At-Fault

One of the primary questions we receive from clients who have been in an accident is whether they should report the accident to their own auto insurance carrier, particularly when the accident was not their fault. And the answer to that question is: always.

Will your insurance go up if you make a claim?

Filing an insurance claim can have long-term ramifications, such as a hike in your premium or difficulty in switching providers in the future. Certain types of claims, such as dog bites or slip-and-fall incidents, can have a significant impact on your rates and may even disqualify you from coverage with some carriers.

What should you not say when making an insurance claim?

Don't discuss the specifics of the accident with other drivers, witnesses or passengers. Don't make any oral or written statements as to responsibility or blame. Don't tell others involved in the accident how much liability insurance you carry.

Can I keep extra money from an insurance claim?

You may be able to keep excess money as long as you're not violating your provider's rules or committing insurance fraud.

What happens if I don't use my insurance money to fix my roof?

If you don't complete repairs or a replacement, however, your insurance provider will likely just decide to no longer cover your roof. This means if another storm deals further damage, you won't be covered and will have to pay for the replacement out of pocket.

What is a strong claim example?

"Congress ought to allocate $10 million to housing, clean water, and healthy food for Americans" is a strong claim, because it is clear, focused, and debatable. Whether or not Congress should allocate resources for these needs would provide adequate controversy for a paper or debate.

What is the first thing an insurer must investigate before taking on a claim?

Insurance companies must search for and consider evidence that supports coverage for the claim. Thus, insurance companies cannot close their eyes to evidence that supports coverage and focus solely on the evidence that denies coverage. Too narrow a focus of investigation?

What is typically the most common damage claim?

Water. Water damage comprises 56.90% of California's homeowners insurance claims, making it the most common type of covered loss in the state. Interior plumbing leaks within walls or shower pans make up 17.44% of these water-related claims.

When should you not file a claim?

If the claim amount equals or is less than the deductible, there's not much sense in filing a claim. “Most car insurance policies have a deductible in place which you have to pay before their coverage kicks in,” says Ross. “If your damages are minor, you're much better off just paying out of pocket.”

Will my insurance drop me if I file a claim?

Yes, your car insurance company can drop you if you file too many claims.

Should I get an estimate before I file a claim?

Should I get an estimate before filing a claim? If your vehicle was the only one to sustain damage — meaning that no other parties were involved — it's a good idea to get an estimate before making a claim.

What do insurance companies fear the most?

It's simple: Insurance companies' legal teams hate having to go before juries. Naturally, it's up to juries to apply the law in a fair and even-handed manner. However, it never helps insurance companies to be seen as the villains who are trying to get one over on people in genuine need.

How to get the most money out of an insurance claim?

Steps to Argue for More Money on Your Total Loss Claim
  1. Ask for the Valuation Report.
  2. Research the Comparables on the Valuation Report.
  3. Dispute Any Condition Adjustments on the Comparables.
  4. Send Your Own Comparables to the Adjuster.
  5. Consider Hiring an Appraiser.