Car Insurances

You were humming along on a bright and sunny day when suddenly Fred Fuddle, a local character from a nearby town, drunk as a skunk and zooming along in his pickup, flew through stop sign crashing into the right front of your motor vehicle. You had no choice to avoid him. Now the time has come to settle your claim for property damage and personal injuries. Lets talk about photographs one of the basics that should have been taking place - - just as soon as possible - - after that impact had taken place.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF INJURIES: Photographs are often the best evidence you can produce to increase the value of your claim. If your accident causes bodily injuries that are visible (such as bruises, deep cuts, swellings, lacerations, dislocations and/or black and blue marks) its crucial, to the ultimate settlement value of your case, that you have photographs taken of those just as soon as possible! Take them from 3 feet away and also as close as you can so as to capture the seriousness of heir existence. When you hand those to Adjuster I. M. Smart from the Granite Insurance Company believe me when I tell you hell stare at them and blanch!

Question: How does Dan know this to be so?

Answer: Because for 38 years Dan was there and felt that!

PHOTOGRAPHS OF BOTH VEHICLES: You should take photographs of the damages to your vehicle from several different angles. If at all possible find the motor vehicle that hit you and take photographs of that damage also. When it comes to proving the impact your body was subjected to (and in many cases to prove who was at fault) those photographs could one day be worth their weight in gold.

HOW TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE: The pictures of each accident scene should be taken from at least three different angles: Snap several of a general view of the area from about 20 to 40 feet away; a couple more medium range shots from 10 to 15 feet away, and then some close up shots from 3 to 5 feet away. If its at all possible all three different distances should have a common point or orientation. If, for example, youre snapping photographs of a skid mark, it should be taken from an angle so as to clearly show were that skid mark is, in relation to a landmark, like a street sign, a building, a fire hydrant, etc. Another photograph should then be taken with a closer view - - one clearly identifying the skid mark in detail - -and also, if possible, include this readily identifiable object or landmark (the street signs, buildings, etc.).

Because theyre such potent evidence you should blow up those photographs of the skid marks, taken from 3 to 6 feet away, into 8X10 glossies. A total of 12 to 15 photographs of the accident scene and/or the skid marks are not too many. When you hand copies of the 8X10 glossy photographs of those skid marks to the adjuster, to help justify he payment hell eventually make to you, it will absolutely increase the value of your claim.

Why you ask?

The answer to that one is, Because it will tell both adjuster Smart and his supervisor (who, in the end, will usually call the shots on how much your settlement dollars should be) that you know what youre doing and youre not the type of individual who can be taken advantage of.

A WORD OF CAUTION: The individual engaged in the task of snapping photographs of your body, the accident scene, etc., should be careful to make sure theyre not undertaking this effort with a casual, hasty or careless attitude - - one that tends to leave it up to do the camera to do the thinking for them. Rather, the photographer ought to carefully consider the process the process slowly and seriously so that the photos produced will produce the maximum value.

If at all possible photos should be taken of the exact location on the road where the impact occurred, and shots of all relevant gouge and/or chop marks on the surface, plus traffic signs, etc., as applicable.

It cannot be emphasized enough that photographs of skid marks are invaluable evidence, since they can often indicate Fuddles speed at the time of impact and can be a tremendous asset when it comes to establishing fault.

A good practice to follow is to make a brief notation on the backs of all photos, entering upon them a brief account of what the photo is showing, the date it was taken and by whom.

Photographs of injuries, the accident scene and the road surface if done correctly - - is money in the bank !

Copyright (c)2004 By Daniel G. Baldyga

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article THE GREAT VALUE OF ACCIDENT PHOTOGRAPHS is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, Peter Go nor ARTICLECITY.COM make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever: NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service, NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is the INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services.

All of the information necessary for you to deal with and handle the above issues are spelled out wiithin the contents of Dan Baldyga’s third How To Insurance Claim book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss)found on the internet at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com or http://www.autoaccodentclaims.com. This book also contains BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA will tell you exactly how many dollars the Pain and Suffering you endured, because of your accident - - are worth!

Copyright (c) 2002 By Dan Baldyga. All Rights Reserved

About The Author

Dan Baldyga is now retired and spends his time writing articles to assist those who are involved in motor vehicle accident claims so they won’t be taken advantage of: dbpaw@comcast.net.

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Several national rating institutions rate insurance companies. Do coverages, rates, and service vary from company to company? Why can you pay less with one company than another can for the same coverages? Choosing the best insurance company for you is a crucial financial decision. Does your insurance company have the financial strength to safeguard you and your family? If the company cannot pay future claims or benefits, other issues become far less relevant. Financial strength ratings are an analysis of a wide variety of risks that could affect an insurance company’s long-term viability. Insurance companies have failed or ceased to operate due to inadequate financial strength, competitive forces, or changing dynamics in the marketplace.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings (http://www.standardandpoors.com) Financial strength ratings of insurance companies, plus detailed financial Insurer Profiles on nearly 4,000 companies.

Fitch Ratings (http://www.fitchratings.com) Financial strength ratings of insurance companies.

Have you heard of the company where you are considering purchasing coverage? Do you have any experience with the company?

Ask your peers what experiences they have had. What is your sense of the reputation of the company? How quickly and easily are claims processed? Is there 24-hour claims service? Is the claims management in the house of the insurance company or have they outsourced? Auto insurance is meant to make you whole in the case of an accident with injury or property damage. It is to protect your assets and protect you from liability. You will want the peace of mind of a superior rated company when it comes time to manage and pay the claim. The financial health of a car insurance company is an often-overlooked area when shopping for the best auto insurance rate. It is human nature to make your comparison solely on the rates for the coverages. While this is certainly important, you should be aware of the company’s overall rating and level of satisfaction. Consulting insurance company ratings is crucial. Each company issues quarterly reports that are publicly accessible. You cannot always tell the future from the past. However, the past performance is a valuable insight into what expectation to have for your future coverage. One of the factors that are used in order to determine the companies’ ratings is how long they have been in business. If there is no history, you may be taking an unnecessary chance. Look for a company that has a history and make sure that history shows good performance.

What about the reputation of the insurance company? It is very simple to find this information. Just ask around. There are your peers, the BBB, and family. Many times these resources closest to you will be able to share experiences that are favorable or unfavorable regarding the company you are considering. In addition, each state has a Department of Insurance that keeps public information about companies. Use all the resources you can to determine which company is best for you. Once you have paid for the policy, you will then become keenly interested in customer service. Be aware of what the source of information is regarding the insurance company. Many companies put our information about themselves in the form of illustrations that are intended to make them look as good as possible. Of course, while these illustrations must be factual, you should be aware that you are not receiving objective information.

How can you quickly check the company rating? You are on the internet now. Surely, there is a quick way.

Go to http://www.carinsurance.com. Not only will you get the rates of various insurance companies, you will see the A.M. Best rating for each company along side their rates for you personal situation.

Now is the time for your fingers to punch their way to a quick rate analysis and view the ratings at the same time.

Visit http://www.carinsurance.com For Quality Rated Car Insurance

Jon Register is a representative of CarInsurance.com. You can visit CarInsurance.com at http://www.carinsurance.com or contact them at 1-877-327-8728.

CarInsurance.com’s online insurance marketplace gives an opportunity to consumers and to insurance companies. We offer the ability to shop for car insurance online.

Consumers can receive quotes from many insurance companies, in some states you are able to purchase your insurance instantly, online. You don’t have to drive your car to buy car insurance. Buy online…anytime!

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Did you realize that it could cost you more than a late fee when you make your insurance payments late? That’s right, not only will you incur a late fee in most cases but also you are jeopardizing your current coverage and possibly your future rates.

Let’s consider what is probably the worst-case consequence of making late insurance payments. If you cut it too close and send your payment too late, you may not even realize that your insurance policy was cancelled. Now you are driving around with no insurance coverage.

Receipt of your payment by the company does not necessarily constitute reinstatement of your policy. You think you’re covered because you mailed the payment but that may not be the case. When the insurance company receives your payment after your policy was cancelled they may return it to you in the mail. In some cases, they may keep it and apply it to any balance you may still owe. You really have no idea what the status of your policy is but are assuming it’s okay because you haven’t received any notices yet and no phone call from the company or your local agent.

Now you have an accident and assume everything is okay because you mailed your payment. You’re thinking I’m covered but in essence you are not; you just don’t know it yet. You find out when you contact the insurance company to let them know about your accident and they inform you that you do not have any coverage. You insist that you do because you mailed your payment. They tell you that it was too late and that your money is being sent back as you speak.

Being involved in an auto accident without insurance coverage is not a good thing. You can loose your license even if it was not your fault. Many states have financial responsibility rules that apply to auto accident and can affect your driving privileges regardless of who is considered to be at fault.

Another consequence to consider is the fact that your insurance company may find that after reviewing your payment history that they no longer wish to insure you. They may issue a ‘non-renewal’ notice. This means that they are no longer willing to insure you when your policy expires. You will have to get an insurance policy from another carrier.

It is also possible that your insurance company would be willing to renew your policy but require that you pay in full for the entire term; not giving you the opportunity to make late payments. If you are unable to pay in full for the policy term you may decide to shop for a new policy; however you may find that other insurance carriers could also require that you pay in full.

Consider that you may also damage your insurance credit based score. Many insurance companies review your credit and prior insurance history when determining what rates to charge you. Having made previous late payments on your insurance policy could cost you extra dollars when you buy a new policy. You might have ordinarily qualified for better rates but because you made late payments on your previous policy your new one is going to be surcharged.

Contact your agent or the insurance company if you cannot make your payment on time. They will be able to provide you with information regarding any late fees or cancellation date. They may also be able to provide advice or propose an alternative solution.

Visit http://www.carinsurance.com for Automobile Insurance Quotes

Jason Horowitz is a representative of CarInsurance.com. You can visit CarInsurance.com at http://www.carinsurance.com or contact them at 1-877-327-8728.

CarInsurance.com’s online insurance marketplace gives an opportunity to consumers and to insurance companies. We offer the ability to shop for car insurance online.

Consumers can receive quotes from many insurance companies, in some states you are able to purchase your insurance instantly, online. You don’t have to drive your car to buy car insurance. Buy online… anytime!

More articles at www.articles-host.com