The proper reporting of an accident is essential
to a smooth and trouble free claim. To expedite
the claim process, we recommend that you make
your first report directly to Commerce at
1-800-221-1605. The first business day following
the report, we will receive a faxed copy of
the report in our office. Should you have
any questions regarding the claim, our friendly
staff remains your primary source of information.
When phoning in the loss, please have your
policy number, as well as all the information
you have available on all parties involved
in the accident.
Step 2 - Appraisal
Now that you have reported your claim, you
will want to have a licensed Commerce appraiser
look at the vehicle and estimate the damages
incurred. The quickest and most convenient
way to appraise your vehicle is to visit one
of their Drive-In
Appraisal Centers. Commerce has over 60
Drive-In Facilities conveniently located throughout
the state - choose one near your workplace
or home. Using one of the facilities can help
expedite your claim by up to 48 hours. It's
all at your convenience.
Step 3 - Repairs
Now that the vehicle has been appraised, you
should expect your appraisal and payment within
7 days. You have several options for repairing
your vehicle, one of which includes a Commerce
guarantee. If you plan to fix the vehicle,
Commerce Insurance Company has a list of all
registered repair shops in your area, which
is provided with the appraisal. The Commerce
Insurance Preferred Repair Shops will
be underlined on the list. These Preferred
Repair Shops have an agreement with Commerce
to guarantee their work.
Step 4 - Payment
Your claims adjuster will process the initial
report information to determine liability
and the amount of the payment according to
your coverage. If your vehicle is repairable,
you can normally expect payment within 7-12
business days from the date you reported the
accident - often up to 3 days sooner if you
report directly to Commerce Insurance Company!
If not, the payment and Repair Certification
Form are sent directly to you. Commerce will
send a check, less any deductible, directly
to you along with a Repair Certification Form,
which will clearly explain your rights and
duties for repairing the damage. If the payment
exceeds $500.00, and there is a lien holder
on your vehicle, the check will be made payable
to yourself and the lien holder. When you
receive the Direct Payment Check and/or the
Repair Certification Form, you have several
options available to you. Please see Payment
Options for the details of the options available
to you.
Tips To Expedite Claims
Have your policy number available.
Have as much information on the other party as possible (name, address, driver, plate number, vehicle type and insurance carrier are ideal).
If your driver/operator was someone other than you, please have the person's date of birth, license number, name and address.
If the police were at the scene, the officer's name and/or the report number.
If
you are unable to visit one of Commerce's Drive-In
locations
Commerce will send a field
appraiser to visit you at your home or workplace.
The appraiser will contact you ahead of time to
indicate when the vehicle will be seen. After
the vehicle has been appraised, you may choose
to begin repairs. However the initial appraisal
is for information only and is not an authorization
to proceed with repairs. The amount of the appraisal
may be reduced by the amount of a deductible or
for damage listed on the appraisal which is not
related to this loss. Your adjuster must also
verify coverage and determine liability. After
this part of the claim process, the adjuster begins
the Claim Payment Process. Should your vehicle
be declared a total loss, your adjuster will be
contacting you to finalize the claim.
Susan
Nigrosh Consulting
