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Five easy steps for filing an insurance claim

In the moments after an auto accident there are a million things that will run through your head. Checking yourself and other passengers for injuries is probably the first thing you do followed by visually assessing the damage to your vehicle. Your next steps may make the insurance claims process a bit easier, so learning these steps prior to an accident may trigger your memory should you find yourself involved in an auto accident.

5 tips for filing an insurance claim in Washington:

  • Call 911: Always alert law enforcement to an auto accident whether it is single or multiple vehicles, on private property, etc. The 911-dispatcher will ask a series of questions to determine if an officer is needed, usually if there is significant vehicle or property damage, there is an injury or if impairment is suspected. If an officer is not needed at the scene, make sure to file a police report at your local precinct as your insurance company may need a police report in order to process certain claims. This process also works for claims such as theft, vandalism or hit-and-run damage to your vehicle.
  • Gather information: You will need to collect information from any parties involved in the auto accident or information from someone whose property may have been damage by your vehicle (and vice versa). Make sure to get a phone number, address, insurance company and auto insurance policy number, a description of the vehicle (make, model, and year) and a description of the damage done to the vehicle. If you have a smartphone or camera handy take photos of all vehicles, buildings and surrounding areas. Make sure to photograph vehicle positions, street signs and anything else that may be useful in the claims process.
  • Talk to your agent: Alert your agent to the fact that you have been in an auto accident and let them know the details. If it is a smaller, solo accident without significant damage to your vehicle, it may be cheaper in the long run to avoid an insurance claim and pay for the damage out of pocket. Your agent can guide you through your options and help you make the best decision for your situation. Your agent may also be an advocate for you when dealing with the insurance company of any party that was involved in an accident with you.
  • File a claim: If you and your agent have determined that filing a claim is the best option for you, then your agent can assist you in that process. Provide your agent with the information of anyone else involved in the auto accident, any photos or videos that were taken at the scene and if there is one, the police report. Your agent will start the claims process and send out a claims adjuster to assess the damage to your vehicle and let you know how much the damage will cost to repair. This does not necessarily reflect the amount you will pay, that depends on who is found “at-fault” for the accident.
  • The waiting game: The claims process can take a bit of time, especially if there are multiple parties and multiple insurance companies involved. Check in with your agent and feel free to ask any questions you may have about the process.

We always hope that none of our clients will experience the stress of an auto accident, but we know that it happens (that’s why we’re here!) The local, independent agents at Trucordia in Olympia, WA can assist you in filing a claim and finding a reputable repair shop. They are right in your backyard, so they know the most trusted repair shops in the Olympia, Washington area. Their years of insurance experience can save you a bundle. You can also visit their insurance website 24/7 to learn more about auto insurance or the other insurance products they offer like Classic Car or RV insurance.

 

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Homeowner’s Insurance in Olympia, WA – Don’t let your home be a house of horrors

Time to break out the conical hats, black cat decorations and the pumpkin seeds; Halloween is on its way! Whether you intend to go all out and build a spooky scene in your front yard complete with a giant spider and web or if you plan to put up a few jack-o-lanterns you can take some extra steps to ensure that your Halloween spirit does not turn your home into a personal house of horrors.

To avoid a costly homeowner’s insurance claim in Olympia, Washington such as a fire, property damage or a personal liability claim, make sure that your Halloween decorations and any area that party-goers or trick-or-treaters access is free of debris and tripping hazards.

  • Décor: Many Halloween decorations are made of paper or wood products. Keep these decorations away from open flames and away from lights as the décor could spontaneously combust resulting in a fire. Lit jack-o-lanterns should be extinguished prior to going to bed or leaving the house for an extended period of time. A pumpkin that is too dry or a flame that is too close to a wooden porch could spark a blaze, which if not caught quickly could be quite destructive. To eliminate open flames altogether, try flameless LED candles.  Speaking of lighting, make sure that any lights hung are the appropriate type (indoor or outdoor) and that they are strung in such a way that no one could trip over or get tangled in.
  • Tripping Hazards: Little ones (and adults too!) can get over excited during a scare and could hurt themselves on décor that is not properly secured or in the way. Moving items like porch furniture or lawn décor could help prevent accidents outside. If you plan to throw a Halloween party indoors with little ones, make sure that sharp edges and corners are secured and tripping hazards such as side tables or ottomans are out of the way. Taking a few extra steps to ensure that your guests are safe could save you from a costly personal liability claim.
  • Treats and tricks: Another wonderful part about Halloween is the food! Candy corn, lollipops and caramel apples are delicious treats for young and old alike; however they do present a choking hazard for small children. Make sure that bite-size or chewy treats are kept out of reach of tiny hands.

Halloween can be a fun time for friends and family, not a time to worry about household accidents. If you have any questions about what your homeowners insurance policy covers in terms of fire, property damage or personal injury liability, your licensed insurance agent in Olympia, Washington can assist you.  The local, independent agents at Trucordia can assist you with examining an existing policy or setting you up with a new policy. Their years of insurance experience can save you a bundle. You can also visit their insurance website 24/7 to learn more about auto insurance or the other insurance products they offer like personal umbrella insurance.

 

 

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Closing the Gap: Do I need Gap Insurance in Olympia, WA?

Congratulations, you just bought a new (or new to you) car! You were able to afford a down payment and now you are the proud owner of a new car and a monthly car payment. But, what happens if your car becomes involved in an accident and you owe more than your car is worth?

Imagine this scenario: While out enjoying your new car, you hydroplane and hit a guardrail damaging your new vehicle beyond repair. The insurance company is telling you that your new car is a total loss. While you may not be able to drive the vehicle, you are still responsible for the loan associated with vehicle. If you have gap insurance in Olympia, WA, you may be only responsible for your deductible.

How gap insurance in Washington works:

What is depreciation:  Vehicles, especially new vehicles, begin to depreciate as soon as you drive them off the dealer lot. Depreciation can be quite surprising and is not necessarily tied to the base cost of the vehicle. Due to wear-and-tear, fluctuating market conditions and a number of other factors, depreciation in the first year is the steepest. Even with proper care and maintenance and no accidents, a vehicle will continue to depreciate. Even though the value of the vehicle will go down each year, the amount you owe on the vehicle will not. Depreciation will vary between make and model but here is a baseline comparison:

Year Vehicle Style Base price Depreciation year one
2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5i sedan $21,295 $3,069
2013 Honda Civic Base sedan $22,715 $4,406
2013 BMW 328i sedan $34,900 $5,198
2013 Ford F-150 $28,595 $5,915
2013 Toyota 4Runner $37,155 $6,380

 *Figures courtesy of automobilemag.com

Why gap insurance: In the unfortunate event that your vehicle is totaled, and it is an event covered under your current auto insurance policy, your insurer may pay the actual cash value of the vehicle, which may be significantly less than the outstanding vehicle loan. In that case, you would still be responsible for the remaining balance between the loan and the insurance payout, which could be thousands of dollars. If you choose to purchase gap insurance in Olympia, Washington, your insurance company would cover the remaining balance between the actual cash value of the vehicle and the remaining loan balance, typically up to 25 percent, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

Options for gap insurance: There are two options for purchasing gap insurance in Olympia, WA. It can be purchased from the dealership or through an insurance agent. If you choose to purchase gap insurance through the dealership you purchase your vehicle from, the gap insurance will be built into your loan. The average price for gap insurance from a dealership is around $1,000, but add interest and taxes and it can add up to much more. If you choose to purchase gap insurance from an insurance agent, on average it would add less than $10 per month to a policy! There may be certain stipulations associated with a gap insurance policy:

  • The loan may need to be through a financial institution rather than an individual
  • Your current auto insurance policy may need to include Collision and Comprehensive coverage
  • Your claim may need to be a covered Collision and Comprehensive coverage event
  • Your vehicle may need to be determined as a total loss

Before you purchase a new vehicle, make sure to check with your licensed insurance agent in Olympia, Washington to see how you can add gap insurance to your new vehicle policy. The local, independent agents at Trucordia can assist you with adding or amending an existing policy or setting you up with a new policy. Their years of insurance experience can save you a bundle. You can also visit their insurance website 24/7 to learn more about auto insurance or the other insurance products they offer like classic car or home insurance.

 

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Personal Umbrella Insurance Olympia, WA – When Parties don’t go as Planned

Fall is a great time to throw parties. Football games, birthdays, Halloween celebrations or just for no reason at all, the summer is when it happens. From the cleaning, the shopping and the food preparation, a lot of thought gets put into the needs and comfort of your guests. While there are many things that may cross your mind in regards to your party, it may not occur that if the party does not go according to plan and someone is injured or gets sick that the hosts of the party could be held liable.

In the event that someone gets injured at a gathering you throw at your home, your homeowner’s insurance policy in Olympia, Washington may cover the injured parties medical bills or damages to a certain dollar amount. Having an extra bit of protection like a personal umbrella insurance policy in Olympia, WA may help in these situations, as it can also help with a legal defense if you are sued for an injury or death that occurs on your property or when your guest leaves (too much alcohol).

Personal Umbrella insurance in Washington: 

  • Unforeseen events: Most parties go off without a hitch, no problems, and no injuries. Every so often something goes awry. It can be as simple as a sprained ankle from slipping off the porch steps to food poisoning from improperly refrigerated potato salad to a DUI or alcohol poisoning. If the party where the injury took place occurred at your home and you are deemed negligent, you may be responsible for paying damages to those injured parties and a personal umbrella insurance policy in Olympia, WA may help you minimize the out-of-pocket costs to you.
  • Intoxication: Depending on the laws in your city/state, a person who consumed alcohol at your party and injures someone else as a result of a DUI crash could hold you liable to pay the victim damages. There are a few ways to mitigate your liability: hiring a third-party to tend bar, like a catering company. These companies are responsible for having their own insurance and it is a lot easier for them to stop serving alcohol to an intoxicated person; they know all the signs to look for. If you are not able to hire an outside party to handle the liquor at your party, stick with only a few options for adult beverages like wine and beer. Having multiple types of liquor may increase the risk of someone having too much to drink.
  • A little prep: Before you have your party, take the time to make sure that your yard (or party area) is free of uneven patches of ground, mounds and holes. Make sure that entryways are clear of tripping hazards and that low hanging lights are high enough that tall heads won’t get tangled up. Taking a few extra steps may help ensure that your party is safe and fun.

If you plan on taking advantage of the summer weather by throwing a party, make sure you have all the protection you need. If you have any questions about what a personal umbrella insurance policy may cover or what your homeowner’s insurance policy covers in terms of fire, property damage or personal injury liability, your licensed insurance agent in Olympia, WA can assist you.  The local, independent agents at Trucordia can assist you with examining an existing policy or setting you up with a new policy. Their years of insurance experience can save you a bundle. You can also visit their insurance website 24/7 to learn more about personal umbrella or the other insurance products they offer like auto insurance.

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