Frequently asked claims questions

You should report your claim to your insurance agent as soon as possible, even if you don't have all the necessary information. The faster you do so, the sooner the claims process begins.

As it pertains to first-party automobile and property claims, the deductible is the amount you've agreed to pay out of your pocket before your insurance provider pays for any covered losses. Here's an example. You suffer a $10,000 covered loss, and you selected a $1,000 policy deductible. You would be responsible to pay $1,000, and your insurance provider pays $9,000.

As it pertains to third-party liability claims, the deductible is the amount of the loss you are responsible to pay. A liability deductible may also apply to expenses paid on a claim, such as payments issued to defense counsel.

Each and every claim is unique, and many different factors can affect how long it takes to resolve your claim.

Subrogation applies only to first-party claims and is a process in which your insurance provider seeks to recover funds it has paid you from the party responsible for the loss. The amount sought in the recovery process will include any deductible applied to the loss. Upon successful recovery, the insured will be reimbursed the appropriate amount of their deductible.

If you received a lawsuit, it is important to notify your agent immediately so a claim can be reported if it has not previously been reported. If the claim had been previously reported you should still immediately get it to your agent. In either situation, immediately is the important part.

Upon receipt and review of the lawsuit, the insurance company will discuss the case with you and assign defense counsel if coverage exists under the terms and conditions of the policy.