JD Power and Associates rules the world in terms of business rankings and their ranking of auto insurance companies customer service is no different. USAA was ranked #1 by a long shot in the 2008 Poll, however their relationship with military members and families disqualified them. USAA would have had a score of 922 out of 1000.

Car insurers: Favorites of customers
Rank Insurance Company Overall Satisfaction Score
1 Erie 896
2 The Hartford 894
3 State Farm 893
4 Liberty Mutual 886
5 American Family 880
6 GEICO 876
7 Nationwide 875
8 MetLife 873
9 Automobile Club Group 867
Industry Average 867
10 Allstate 863
11 Esurance 860
12 Safeco 855
12 Travelers 855
14 Farmers 849
15 Progressive 844
16 AIG 840
17 Mercury 835

Source: J.D. Power & Associates

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Giving a statement, recorded or not, for the auto insurance company in the course of the auto insurance claim should be something you look forward to, not something you dread. This will help work towards an amicable conclusion for all parties involved and should be championed by the adjuster and the auto accident participant.

Don’t feel like you are going to be taken advantage of in the process because this will make you timid and nervous during the statement. As long as you pay attention and ask the right questions in return during your auto insurance claim then you have nothing to worry about. If all else fails, remember all auto insurance companies must report to their own department of insurance!

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Obviously, the meaning of the recorded statement is to have evidence of what was stated about the accident, this goes without saying. Most people, however, don’t understand that the recorded statement is recorded to protect the insurance company AND the driver who was involved. You want the questions to be recorded just as bad as they want your answers!

If you feel uncomfortable with your statement or feel that you were taken advantage of, request a transcription of the recorded statement from the auto insurance company. They are required to provide this if requested and are required to print the call just as they heard it, including every cough or sigh. Don’t be worried about your recorded statement, just be prepared!

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Don’t give up on your auto insurance claim because you thought you were at fault at the scene or the police told you it was your fault. The police do not make liability decisions for a reason; they are not licensed or trained to do so! Let your auto insurance liability claim be decided by someone who is trained to do so.

Taking photos from the scene of the auto accident will always help in making sure the auto insurance claim is settled fairly. Even if you can’t get the vehicles just as they are after the impact, get photos anyway! You never know what is going to help the auto insurance adjuster close the claim!

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The process after filing an auto insurance claim is based on the old saying, “hurry up and wait”. You must hurry as soon as possible after the accident and file the claim, but understand that you will likely have to wait for the claim to be resolved. Know that your role with your auto insurance claim is to be as cooperative and available as possible. If you don’t return phone calls, don’t expect yours to be returned, etc.

In general, make a policy when you are in contact with the adjuster for your auto insurance claim to ask two questions every time you speak to them. (1) What else is needed to conclude this claim? (2) What is your plan of action to conclude this claim? When both parties understand where the auto insurance claim stands, both are more likely to work towards a peaceful resolution.

This process is widely misunderstood and can be very frustrating for people who have been in auto accidents. Basically, you must understand that anytime you go through your auto insurance you will have to pay your deductible. If the auto accident is determined to not be your fault by your insurance company they guarantee to attempt to recover your deductible for you.

It is not a guarantee that the other auto insurance company will reimburse you, but if the case against their insured driver is strong enough they will have to. Auto insurance companies do not like to pay money when they aren’t legally required to, so rest assured that they will attempt to get your money back.

When you are in this situation (auto accident claim) it is important to remember that adjusters can’t make decisions based on hearsay or hypothetical situations. Adjusters must have proof or the lack of proof to make a given decision on an auto liability claim. When an adjuster from another party’s insurance makes a decision you agree with, your recourse is through your insurance or an attorney.

However, your recourse through a decision made by your insurance company is only through the company itself. You can dispute by going up the chain of command within the auto insurance company, but your auto insurance policy binds you to the decision made by your auto insurance company. Just remember the more cooperative and helpful you can be during the process, the better the chance of a favorable outcome.

Auto accidents are called “accidents” for a reason, because they are not (except in extreme cases) intentional acts. Because nobody gets in an accident on purpose and because you are paying the insurance company to protect you, that insurance company must confirm an accident happened and what happened before making a payment on a policy.

Remember that auto insurance companies are not “rogue” groups with any rules that can make decisions based on garbage. They have to have proof and they have to make reasonable decisions, but they must have time to do so. Rarely will a claim be concluded on day one, but it will never be concluded if it isn’t filed.