Filing an Insurance Claim? Watch What You Say!

Filing Claims 101: All You Need to Know!

Many people are flustered when they file an insurance claim given that claims typically follow devastating events like car accidents, illnesses or home fires.

To help you file a claim in Michigan with ease, below is some useful information you need to make the best of this trying experience.

Navigating an insurance claim can be quite tricky if you are unsure how to approach it. Consider the following recommendations to increase the chance that your claims will be processed successfully. Better yet, put these tips in your wallet or post them on your fridge.

When you are involved in an automobile accident

• Do not apologize to other drivers involved or admit fault under any circumstances.
• Describe what occurred to law enforcement and to your insurance company. If you are unsure, leave it to the authorities.
• Always contact your insurance company immediately after an auto accident.
• Do not talk to the other driver’s insurance company; let your company represent you throughout the ordeal.

 When your home is flooded

• The term flood in the insurance world refers to water damage resulting from an overflow of a nearby stream or river. Even if your sump pump did not work and you have 6 inches of water in your basement, you are not dealing with a flood.
• Making references to the wrong terms can cause claims to be denied or elongate the process.
• Review your Homeowners Insurance policy to determine what it covers with regard to water damage.
• Do not guess how accidents occurred. An insurance investigator will determine the exact cause of the claim in question.

When you have a health care claim:

• Avoid calling procedures experimental, investigational or a clinical trial. The claim may be denied if the treatment is seen as unnecessary.
• Do not sign any medical record releases. It is illegal for an insurance company to access your records without your consent, and they should not need them to process the claim.

The most important thing to remember when filing a claim is that the less you say the better. Do not speculate and do not judge; simply give the facts and the insurance company will take care of the rest.

Feel free to contact your agent for assistance throughout the claims process.

Security Tips for Traveling Abroad

Many people enjoy traveling to learn about new and different cultures, history and traditions. As a result, many Americans seek out extreme adventures, with their destinations becoming more and more remote. As this type of travel increases, so does risk of kidnappings, muggings, hotel break-ins and other crimes around the globe. Knowing how to protect yourself is the first step in helping you, and your Michigan insurance policies, have a safe trip, too.

Health and Safety while Traveling Abroad  

• When possible, avoid using taxi cabs. Have your hotel’s concierge service book a driver or car service for you. If you must take a cab, do not provide information about your trip, its duration or its purpose to your driver.
• Place your luggage in the trunk of a cab by yourself after the driver gets out to open it for you.
  • When staying at a hotel, request a room on one of the lower floors, but not the first floor. Ground floors are the least secure, but floors above the sixth are too high for conventional fire equipment to service.
• Bring small door and window locks with you while traveling and use them in your hotel room.
• Do not give a limo company your last name to place on the placard when waiting at the airport; use a mutually agreed-upon code word.
• Bring a flashlight with you on your trip in case the power goes out.
• Always place the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door and do not let anyone in, unless you know who they are from looking in the peep hole. When leaving your hotel room for the day, place the television on a local station and place the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. This gives the impression that you are a native speaker staying in the room, and that you are in relaxing.
• Place plastic connectors on your luggage when you leave. Though this does not prevent someone from opening your bags, it can alert you that someone has tampered with your luggage.
• Do not stay in hotels with hard keys; only visit those with key cards. They are safer and are not passed around as easily.
• Dress to fit in with the locals. Do not wear expensive jewelry, trendy clothes or carry an expensive purse. Also do not advertise your nationality by wearing T-shirts with slogans.
• Register your travel plans with the State Department at www.travelregistration.state.gov. This will help the government contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S. or if you are in need of assistance abroad.
• Sign your passport and fill in all the emergency information.
• Leave copies of your itinerary and passport with loved ones at home.
• Familiarize yourself with local customs and laws, as you are subject to them while traveling.
• Contact the U.S. Embassies and Consulates at http://travel.state.gov or by calling the Office of Overseas Citizen Services at 888- 407-4747 for assistance while you’re away.

Do not get distracted while you are site seeing. Many times, thieves will work together to distract you while others steal from you. At the same time, always keep a hand on your purse or wallet to make sure that it does not get swiped as you are taking everything in.

To protect yourself while you’re away, consider purchasing a Travel Insurance policy for a nominal fee. These policies provide medical, security and travel-related assistance for Americans abroad.

Preventing Motorcycle Theft

Since motorcycles are easily accessible, they are highly prone to theft. This is why Michigan motorcycle insurance can be costly due to the high risk of theft and injury. If you like to hit the open road on two wheels, be mindful of these theft prevention guidelines to avoid taking a one-way trip down “Loss Lane”.

Tips for Thwarting Thieves

• When you get off your bike, shut off the ignition and then lock it.
• Lock the forks (disk brakes). Purchase locks that are brightly colored to discourage potential thieves.
• Lock multiple motorcycles together if you are traveling in a pack.
• If you are riding alone, lock your motorcycle to a stationary object that cannot be dismantled such as a light pole.
• Install an alarm on your bike that sounds when it is tampered with.
• Park your bike in front of a security camera or close to your room, when staying at a hotel for the evening.
• Check on your bike periodically when you are at a public event, especially shortly after you arrive. A thief may have watched you arrive and waited for you to walk away before making a move. Do you best to avoid the reason to file a Michigan insurance claim.
• Block your bike with a vehicle in a garage.
• Store the title for your motorcycle in your home; not in the compartments or saddlebags on your bike.
• Mark your bike with a unique symbol or mark and take photographs of that. If your motorcycle is stolen, you can present this information to the police.
• Always keep your motorcycle registration and Michigan insurance information with you when riding.

Motorcycle thieves may try and steal your bike when you are putting it up for sale. When potential buyers come to test drive your bike at your home:

• Withhold the title until you have conducted a background check on the potential buyer and his/her payment has cleared. Then, mail the title.
• Verify the buyer’s personal information and cross reference it with their identification.
• Do not allow buyers to take your bike for a test drive after he/she has been dropped off by another person. They may take a ride and never come back.

In addition to theft prevention, you have the ability to be covered. Contact your Michigan motorcycle insurance agent for more information.

Driving Safely When You are Alone

It is nice to have a family member or friend in the car while driving, not only for companionship, but also for safety. However, there may be times when you will be driving alone and should know how to do so safely. Your Michigan auto insurance policy expects you to drive safe, especially when you’re alone. Here are some tips to help out.

Tips for Driving Solo

• Be ready before you reach your vehicle. Have your keys in your hand when you are walking to your car. If you are in an unsafe area, pre-dial 9-1-1 on your cell phone before walking to your car.
• If you will be leaving after dark, park in an area that is well lit and always lock your vehicle every time you get out.
• If you have been followed to your car or suspect that someone is hiding in or near it, quickly move away and get help immediately. Trust your instincts!
• Look around and under your car when you return to it. Check for flat tires, which may indicate that someone tampered with your vehicle. Also look inside all the windows to make sure that no one has gained entry into your car and is hiding in the backseat. If you notice anything suspicious, go find help immediately. Michigan insurance companies advise that you create a form of checklist, even if it’s just in your head, to make sure that your vehicle is safe to enter and operate.
• Lock your car doors once you are inside and keep the windows up whenever possible. Also be alert for things going on around you when you are stopped at traffic lights.
• If you think that you are being followed, do not drive home. Instead, go to the nearest safe, well-lit place and call 9-1-1.
• If you are rear-ended, do not get out of your car unless you are in a safe, public area. A thief may bump you on purpose, wait for you to get out of your car and then rob you. If you are on an isolated road and get bumped, call 9-1-1 immediately. If you do not have a cell phone, continue driving to a public area where you know others are present. If the accident is legitimate, the driver who hit you should follow to discuss the accident. If you decide to file a Michigan insurance claim, but in this case, don’t have the other driver’s information, you will need to explain the situation in order for the claim to be legit.
• Notify your family and friends where you are going and when you are expected to arrive. In the event that you are not available or did not arrive when expected, they will know to look for you and to contact the police for assistance.

Contact your Michigan auto insurance agent to learn more about ways to drive safe and solo to your destination, regardless of your surroundings.

Does Your Car Attract Thieves?

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), older car models are hot commodities for car thieves because they can get good money for the stolen vehicle parts. That contributes to the $8.2 billion worth of cars that are stolen each year in the United States, which translates to a car being stolen every 26 seconds. In spite of this, car theft is on the decline. Yet, to be safe, and for the sake of your Michigan auto insurance, you may be wondering, “Does my car appeal to thieves?” To find out, check out the following list of the 10 most frequently stolen cars in the U.S.

Top Stolen Cars

1. 1994 Honda Accord

• Accords have an easy ignition mechanism to bypass, so they are easy to steal.
• Body style is attractive to young people, especially when the factory engine is replaced with a bigger one. It becomes a street racing champion.
• Civics are stolen often because of the value of their parts. Car thieves can pull in $30,000 worth of parts from a $20,000 vehicle.

2. 1995 Honda Civic

Honda manufactures interchangeable parts for all model years, so the black market profit on parts is high.

3. 1991 Toyota Camry

• Camry (and Honda Accord) are the highest-selling cars in the U.S., and therefore are among the most stolen because their per capita sales rate is the highest.

4. 1999 full-sized Chevy pickups
5. 1997 Ford F-150 pickup
6. 2004 Dodge Ram
7. 2000 Dodge Caravan
8. 1995 Acura Integra
9. 2002 Ford Explorer
10. 1999 Ford Taurus

If you drive of one of the top stolen vehicles on this list (or any vehicle for that matter), consider installing an anti-theft device such as a steering wheel lock or fuel cut-off switch or an alarm for your vehicle to deter thieves.  Michigan auto insurance companies will consider this to be the best preventative method.  Typically, when cars are set up with a solid alarm system, thieves are sometimes intimidated because they have a higher chance of getting caught in the heist.

Copy your license plate and vehicle identification number (VIN) on a card and keep them on you with your driver’s license. If your vehicle is stolen, police will need this information promptly.

Many wonder why newer, more expensive cars aren’t more appealing to thieves. Experts say it’s because of the value of used car parts, which can be much more than the car itself would fetch on the used car market. Also, newer models are tougher to steal due to more sophisticated anti-theft technology.

Contact your Michigan insurance agent for more advice on keeping your car safe (and in your own hands).