Auto Insurance Claims/Insurance Claims

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Expert: - 9/8/2009


Question
Is it illegal to file a claim for a car accident on the date the insurance policy was established if the policy was started after the accident happened?

Answer
You could check with the state department of insurance or a lawyer or the police to see if it is "illegal". But I doubt that it is illegal, unless you intend to defraud the insurance company and lie on a claim form or statement or application. Just my opinion, but my guess is that it is not illegal, they will just deny the claim once they see it happened before you bought the insurance.

Now I have heard that insurance coverage is often retroactive to 12:00 midnight the day you buy the insurance, but I suspect there is some catch, otherwise everyone would go uninsured and buy a policy after an accident on the same day of the accident. Look in the policy or on the Declarations page of the policy to see when the policy is effective to.

Auto Insurance Claims

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Ron Cercone

Expertise

How to handle automobile total loss claims. I am the president of UClaim.com, which sells 29 different eBooks I have written on how to maximize various types of auto, home and business claims and how to get coverage on denied claims. You may view their tables of contents online. Also available are very specialized eBooks such as on EUO (Examination Under Oath) for example. Also available is an assortment of policy forms used by the most popular insurers. The eBooks have a money back guarantee and currently include personal consultation with Ron Cercone.

Experience

I have been adjusting insurance claims since 1980. 1980 to 1995 adjusting for many insurers (6 years as an independent adjuster with my own company). Currently working as a public adjuster in California, since 1995. I'm one of the few public adjusters who has handled automobile damage and total loss claims.

Organizations
CAPIA (California Association of Public Adjusters).

Education/Credentials
BA 1975 in History and Industrial Arts. Full CV at UClaim.com .

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