The Basics Surrounding Insurance Claims and Coverage for Car Fires

If your car catches fire, there are some things you need to know about insurance coverage and the claims process. Since there are different scenarios that can cause a car to catch fire, you can expect to come across different limits of coverage and procedure for each. Continue reading to learn some basic information about car insurance claims and coverage in the case that a vehicle is burned down in a fire.

Car fires will clearly do a lot of damage to a vehicle. In most cases, cars are rendered a total loss after an engine or chassis fire. Fortunately, most insurance policies offer additional coverage for fires. This is called "comprehensive coverage", and it will cover damages caused by a fire regardless of how the blaze occurred. However, this type of coverage must be purchased before a fire occurs. Some of the most common causes for automotive fires include car accidents, engine fires, garage fires, and arson.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes for car fires. Serious vehicular collisions and accidents can damage fuel lines and fuel tanks, which leads to gasoline leakages. A tiny spark from metal colliding together is all it takes for combustion to happen. This is often the reason why fires break out after a car accident.

In terms of insurance coverage, the answer can be complex. Depending on how the blaze occurred and the parameters of your coverage, the damage could fall under comprehensive or collision. It is necessary to discuss this with your insurance adjuster to learn the details pertaining to your particular policy. If you do not have collision coverage insurance, there is still a possibility that it could be covered under comprehensive.

Garage Fires

In the case of garage fires, which are more common than you think, vehicles can experience a severe amount of damage. Most of the time, they are rendered totaled. Because garage fires are commonly caused by a household hazard or malfunction, people tend to assume that homeowners' insurance will cover the damages to their vehicles; but the truth is that homeowners' insurance never covers vehicles. Instead, cars damaged in garage fires are only covered under comprehensive coverage.

Engine Fires

Engine fires generally result in a total loss vehicle. That is because the cost to purchase and install a new engine is often close to the actual cash value of the vehicle. In this case, comprehensive coverage will cover engine fires. However, it is important to know that car insurance policies do not typically cover mechanical defects inside car engines. Fires are the exception to this rule. Whether a vehicle is a total loss or not, a car insurance policy will likely pay the actual cash value of the vehicle minus the owner's insurance deductible.

Arson

There's not much to say about the criminal act of arson, except that it does happen to vehicles and the damages can be covered by car insurance policies. Comprehensive coverage covers vandalism, so if a vehicle is intentionally set on fire, the damages are covered so long as a police report is made.

Sell a Totaled Car for Cash

If your car is damaged in a fire, you likely have a total loss vehicle on your hands. Sell your totaled car for cash on the spot to a local junk car buyer. They will pay you cash for the actual cash value of your vehicle. This is sometimes more than what you can get from your insurance company!

What You Need to Know About Reporting a Stolen Car

Can you imagine how it would feel to park your car somewhere, only to find it missing later on? Many people experience this tragedy on a daily basis. In fact, according to CNBC.com, "Roughly 800,000 to one million cars are stolen in America every single year." These numbers are extraordinary, making car theft a common occurrence all across the country. This also means that the insurance claim process can be quite complex and tedious.

If you are prepared to report your car as stolen, there are a few important things you should know about car insurance coverage for stolen vehicles, as well as the investigation process for car theft claims. Continue reading to learn what you need to know about filing an insurance claim for a stolen car.

FIRST: Was Your Car Really Stolen?

Once you have noticed that your car is missing, it is wise to reconsider all the possibilities before making an insurance claim and police report. You can check for parking signs to see if it had been towed, ask friends and family if they borrowed your vehicle, or call your car loan company to see if it was repossessed. When there is no other possible reason for your car to be missing, then it is safe to move forward with filing an insurance claim and police report.

Insurance Coverage for Stolen Cars

In order to have insurance coverage in the case that your car is stolen, you must have comprehensive coverage on your insurance policy. This is something that is required in all states. If your vehicle is stolen off of your personal property, you cannot file it under your home owners' insurance policy; you must have an auto policy with comprehensive coverage to cover the loss.

Car Theft Claims Process

When you are sure your car has been stolen, you must report it to the police immediately for documentation. At the same time, you must notify your auto insurance carrier. Most carriers operate using a 30-day claim waiting period to see if the car is ever recovered, which generally begins on the date of theft. Furthermore, comprehensive coverage does not cover personal belongings that are stolen out of a vehicle. Items like phones, computers, clothing, jewelry, equipment, and more, could be covered in a renter's or home insurance policy, but not in an auto policy.

Car Theft Investigations

Car theft claims are taken very seriously at insurance companies. They are investigated closely by adjusters to ensure that fraud is not at play. Filing a fraudulent car theft insurance claim is a felony punishable by prison time, fines, and more. They will record all conversations with clients, and ask very detailed and intrusive questions. As long as you are not committing a crime, you shouldn't take the investigation process personally. The insurance adjuster is just doing their job.

Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer for Fraud Charges

Fraud crimes are charged as either misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the particulars of a person's case. If you were recently arrested on facing fraud charges in Indiana, you are facing hefty fines, imprisonment, and other severe penalties. The best step you can take toward securing your rights and protecting your freedoms is calling a licensed fraud lawyer for tough and aggressive criminal defense; otherwise, you risk be sentenced to the maximum levels of punishment in Indiana.

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