Incident on the road? How to do your insurance claim
Incident on the road? How to do your insurance claim
Posted on May 18, 2022
Once the shock of a road incident has passed, your thought will eventually move to your car insurance claim. There’s a logical process to follow, which is simple as long as you know how to proceed and in which order to take your next steps.
If medical assistance is required, it should be the first call you make. If no one is hurt, or once injuries have been taken care of, you’ll need to address the damage to your vehicle. Read on to find out how to claim car insurance without wasting time.
At the Scene
When working out how to claim car insurance, it’s best to start collecting information immediately after the incident has happened, once you’re sure everyone is alright. Exchange information with any other drivers involved, ensuring you take note of:
- Names
- Vehicle details
- Customer number/policy number if from outside SK
- Insurance company
If there were any witnesses to the incident, it’s beneficial to get their details. A name and phone number will suffice so that more information can be obtained later.
If there’s no one else involved in the incident, then you’ll only need to complete the second half of the on-scene tasks. Take photographs of the damage to the vehicle and any other vehicles or objects involved.
Report the Incident
There are two steps to reporting your road traffic incident. In certain circumstances, you’ll need to inform the police. You should do so if it involves a death, a driver was under the influence, a vehicle involved is from outside the province or doesn’t have a valid licence plate, or if theft or vandalism was involved.
To start your claim, you’ll need to report it to SGI over the phone, online, or by visiting a claims centre. There are several auto claims centre options to visit in person, where you can also complete your automotive appraisals, like the SGI appraisal Regina.
You’ll need your vehicle registration, licence, insurance company name and policy number, if applicable, and the details you gathered at the scene. Although you have two years to report an incident to SGI, it’s best to proceed as soon as possible while the details and any evidence are still fresh.
Get an Estimate
At the claims centre or an SGI accredited repair shop, you can get the damage to your vehicle assessed. The adjuster will give you an estimate with a full list of the repairs needed and the cost. At this stage, you’ll also discuss and confirm your coverage concerning the repairs and will be informed if you’re considered responsible for the incident.
Service Department
Parts Department
Collision Centre
Proceed With Repairs
You can save time by having the estimate and the repairs completed in the same place. There might be a deductible or other costs outside of the claim, which you need to cover. You can discuss with your adjuster whether your coverage allows for vehicle rental while you wait for repairs to be completed.
Finally, you’ll need to sign off to confirm that all repairs have been completed.