In many cases after an auto accident, the person involved will file a claim immediately to cover the damage of the car.  But in some cases people will try to settle without getting their insurance company involved.  This may not always be the best decision.   Perhaps someone doesn’t pay when they say they will, or you find that there are medical complications due to the accident that weren’t immediately apparent.  When this happens, many people will then turn to their insurance agency to be compensated.  The question then comes up, “How long do I have after an accident to file a claim?”  For medical issues, the state of California requires that your claim be made within 2 years of the incident.  If you are trying to be compensated for damage to your vehicle, you have 3 years (for more information, click here). 

While this is the case in the state of California, you should always review your insurance policy to be certain.  This information is usually contained in a section titled “Duties After an Accident or Loss”.  For example, if your vehicle is stolen you typically have a duty to file a police report immediately and contact your insurance company within 30 days.

To make filing a claim a bit less stressful, it is a good idea to gather information just after the accident.  Make notes and take pictures if possible.  Also, if there are medical complications, it is important to save all of the documentation.

For more information please see www.aisinsurance.com

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Even though most parts of California don’t receive the harsh winters and cold climates like the east coast, it is still important to make sure you are prepared if your car breaks down . 

When traveling, it is important to have a few basic survival items in your vehicle while you wait for help.  Always have bottled water, snacks, blankets, road flares and jumper cables in your car.  Keep these items in a kit in your trunk, so if you need them, they are easily accessible.  Now that many people have cell phones, it is also a good idea to equip your kit with a phone charger that is either solar powered or crank power.  If you breakdown and lose power, you may not be able to plug your phone into the cigarette lighter to charge it.

To supplement your kit, you should also consider purchasing roadside assistance insurance.  This type of insurance will be beneficial if you break down.  This service typically covers minor mechanical work, towing, tire changes, jump starts and fuel delivery.

Adding roadside assistance coverage to your current policy can be an affordable way to make sure that help is only a phone call way.  For more information on California roadside assistance coverage, please see http://www.aisinsurance.com/california-roadside-assistance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

After many years of selling California auto insurance, we have fielded numerous questions about auto insurance “myths” associated with them.  Below is a list of our favorite “myths” and what they actually mean.

I recently paid my insurance premium and purchased a new car.  This means that I am covered.  This is true up until a certain point.  You typically have a certain amount of time under the terms of your policy to notify your carrier of a new or replacement vehicle.  If you have purchased a car that is very different from your current model, your premiums could be significantly different.  It is always a good idea to contact your agent or carrier immediately to advise them of your new vehicle.

I’ve never been in an auto accident so I don’t need insurance.  While most are lucky enough to not have been in an auto accident, it is still imperative that you protect yourself, people in your vehicle and others sharing the road.  It is also illegal in all states to drive without auto insurance.

While these are our favorites, there are many myths about auto insurance.  If you have specific questions please contact a representative at AIS Auto Insurance(Link to homepage).

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

For most car owners, there comes a time in life when you will have that unfortunate fender bender and you have to get the damage repaired.  For most people, picking a body shop and paying for the repairs is not an enjoyable experience.  While these tips will not make the process any more enjoyable, they will however help you to not spend more money than is necessary when it comes to body shop repairs.

Shop Around – One of the biggest differences you will see in body shops is the hourly rate they charge to perform the labor on your vehicle.  This can range from $30-60 an hour.  The rates can vary by the location you are in and the shop itself.  You might benefit by checking your next closest town for different rates.

Once you choose a shop and receive a quote, make sure you understand the quote you are presented.  Some shops use a computer system to generate the quote while others will do this by hand.  Whichever kind you receive, be sure the body shop technician goes over the quote in detail and that you understand it before you make a commitment.  A good shop will review this with you, but if they don’t, you should ask.  If you are not satisfied or their answers seem vague, move on to the next body shop.  Also, it never hurts to get multiple quotes from competing shops.  Some will match or beat the quote of their competitor to make sure you choose their shop.

After your car is repaired and it is time to pick it up, inspect the parts once you get to the shop.  Look to see that the old parts were in fact damaged.  If you can’t tell, ask the technician to show you what is defective and why it needed to be replaced.  If the quote calls for new parts, ask to see the old ones and make sure new parts were put onto your vehicle.  Some shops will use refurbished parts and call them new to save money for themselves. 

Most parts being put onto the car will need to be painted.  When you pick up your vehicle, inspect the parts and paint to make sure they were painted correctly.  If possible, try to inspect the paint in different lighting conditions.  When it is bright and sunny outside, the paint may look perfect, but moving the vehicle into an area with less light, and the same paint job could look different.  If this is the case, you may want to consider asking them to repaint this for you.

The last thing you should always remember is to ask a lot of questions.  Repairs can cost thousands of dollars, so you want to make sure you don’t have to come back to have the work redone at an added cost.  Many shops will warranty or guarantee their work.  Make sure you get the details in writing, so if you do have issues with the work performed you can use that as your back up.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

 Parties and summertime go hand in hand. With this in mind, it’s a great time to make sure you understand the “social host” laws. Social Host laws are designed to prevent against the distribution of alcohol to minors and people who have had too much to drink. These laws apply to “social hosts” who are providing alcohol in a non-commercial setting. Violation of this law can result in criminal and civil charges. Social Host cases are most commonly brought about as a result of a vehicle crash, or other incident involving serious injuries, after a party.

Social host liability is a state policy, and varies by state to state. Before hosting a party, make sure to check your state’s laws. Click here to find out the laws in your state. The only way to completely avoid social host liability is to not serve alcohol at all.

Aside from social host liability, if you are serving alcohol to minors, you will more than likely be facing other charges as well. Distribution of alcohol to minors is illegal in almost every situation. In some states, if a minor is caught serving alcohol to another minor, they may also face charges. And if this happened in a minor’s home, the parents of that child is liable as well.

Be careful when partying this summer. Make sure you know your state’s social host laws and abide by them. Have a fun summer, but make sure it’s a safe one!

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Getting into an auto accident can be one of the scariest, most frustrating and costly things that can happen to you.  Once you determine that no one involved needs medical attention, there are some important procedures you should follow to ensure your protection.   First and foremost, it is important to stay calm.  If you panic after the accident, you may miss some important details while evaluating the situation.   Notify Police and file a report.  No matter how small, this is a very important step.  This report will serve as an official document if a legal issue should arise.  Do not leave the scene until the officer allows you to.  Don’t admit fault and don’t discuss the accident with anyone except the police officer and your car insurance company.  In some jurisdictions, police may not respond to the scene unless there are injuries.  In this case, you can file a “counter report” at the local police station. 

Exchange information with the other people involved.  It is very important to get as much information as possible.  Ask for the following:

- First and Last Name

- Drivers License Number

- Phone Number(s) – Home, Work, Cellular

- Physical address and email address

- Insurance Company and Policy Number

- Names of others involved 

- License plate number(s) of all involved vehicles

If you have a camera handy (don’t forget about cell phone cameras), take pictures of the scene.  If no camera is available at the scene, take pictures once you have a camera.  This can help with the claim and for legal purposes. Next, it is important to write down all you can remember about the accident.  Include time of day, street names, which direction you were headed, etc. If there is a legal suit filed, it can take months to sort it all out.  When recalling the events, you may not remember them as they happened, and this document will help jog your memory or help your legal counsel.  It is also important to review your policy and file a claim with your insurance company.  Do this as soon as you can to get the process started toward repairing your damaged vehicle. Finally, in California you are obligated to report any accident that 1) results in a total of $750 of damage or more and/or 2) involves injuries to the Department of Motor Vehicles.  The reporting form is called an “SR-1″.  Your insurance carrier may file this form on your behalf, but if they do not it is your obligation to do so.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.