Making an insurance claim can be stressful. The claims process is always preceded by a loss; damage to your home or car, or worse yet, an accident that’s caused an injury.
Our goal is to make the claims process as simple as possible; we’re going to cover what to do if you need to make an insurance claim. Today, we’ll focus on making claims with Manitoba Public Insurance, but the advice we give should apply to other property insurance claims you might make.
The team at R.A. Hughes Agencies is here to help you through every step of your insurance claim. When you have any questions about what your insurance covers, how to claim, or what to do if you’re not happy with what your claims adjuster offers, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’ve been providing insurance in St. Boniface and the surrounding area for almost a century; we know how to help.
When there’s an incident, your first instinct is probably to keep people and property safe—and that’s an excellent first instinct. After a car accident, make sure everyone in your vehicle is safe and injury-free, then check on the people in any other vehicle involved in the accident. From there, move your vehicle to the side and help the other driver move their vehicle if necessary.
Once you’re safe, and you’ve helped everyone you can, contact emergency services if necessary.
The same logic applies to other insurance claims; for example, if it’s safe, you should try to stop the spread of a fire.
Once everyone is safe and emergency services have been called (if necessary), contact us to begin the claiming process. Whether it’s an Autopac claim or a claim for property damage, we can walk you through the claiming process.
To file a claim, we’ll need as many details about the incident as possible. This can help us create an accident report (in the event of a car accident), or a more detailed claims report. Don’t leave anything out; whether or not you think you were responsible for a collision or damage to your house, the best thing to do is provide as many details as you can as accurately and honestly as possible.
Taking pictures of any damages can help make the claim process much more efficient. We also recommend taking an inventory of any items in your home or vehicle well before an incident occurs; if you’ve done so, provide us with the supporting documents that showcase your belongings and their value.
Once your claim has been made, it may take weeks or months for your claims adjuster to come to a decision. Some decisions, like those that involve insurance to fund replacement transportation or temporary housing, are typically made much more quickly than the decision to pay out for damaged property.
Every insurance policy is different, though auto insurance in Manitoba is highly standardized. To understand what your policy covers, contact our brokerage.
Before and after photos showcasing any damage can help expedite your insurance claim. You may also need to fill out an insurance claims form. Documents that detail which property was damaged and its value can also speed up the claiming process.
Claims processing times vary depending on the volume of claims your insurance company is processing, as well as the complexity of your claim. Some claims may take weeks—others may take months.
Whether you’re filing a claim through Manitoba Public Insurance for a car accident or a claim through a private insurer for damage to your home or other property, you have the right to negotiate claim payouts. Our insurance brokerage can help.
Looking for an insurance broker in St. Boniface? Get in touch with us today; we’ll help you choose the right insurance, and when necessary, we’ll help you through the claiming process.
