InsuranceLecturer — Auto insurance fraud and abuse has sadly become quite a common problem over these past few years. As a matter of fact, there has been an unreasonable rise in auto insurance reports and the schemes involved have become quite complex over the years.
It has even come to the point that most drivers feel that the rates have increased due to the rise in fraudulent insurance claims filed towards insurance providers. Even to those not committing such fraud, there has been an overall rise in rates for all.
Auto insurance is an essential part of owning and operating a motor vehicle and isn’t an option, rather a requirement for all. This is due to the liability claims one may be subject to and the monetary situation in the case of a claim made against them by another or in the case that they make a lawsuit against the wrong doing of another driver in the case of an auto accident.
Protect yourself through the following tip s that will shield you from paying for a fraudulent and abusive insurance claim.
1. Get in contact with your insurance provider if you are ever in an accident. It’s essential that you provide all the information attaining to the accident immediately. You will then be directed to the repair shops, rental car services as well as legal advisors in such a case.
2. Use repair shops recommended by your insurance provider. This can lessen the suspicious nature that can befall those using repair shops not in list with their insurance providers. Remember some repair shops may even charge higher rates and thus abuse your insurance claim.
3. Be weary about tow truck companies that immediately arrive at the scene of the accident as you can end up with a company that received affiliate fees for taking customers to specified repair shops that may end up charging you more than what your insurance company has in mind.
4. In the case that you may be injured during an accident, make sure that you keep proper track of all paper work, prescriptions, treatments, doctors e.t.c in order to compare notes with the insurance provider later on and to avoid any inaccuracies which could put you in jeopardy and be a sign of insurance fraud later on.
5. Never sign any documents from repair shops, towing truck companies, legal advisors, medical providers without reading the fine print. There can be fraud committed just by signing the documents and you could be victimized, yet legally expected to pay for things you had no expectations to pay for!
