Nationwide Claims Process

Understanding the Nationwide Insurance Claims Process

Getting involved in a car accident is stressful enough. The last thing anyone needs after experiencing such trauma is a stressful car insurance claims process. Thankfully, both the Nationwide claims process and the Nationwide arbitration process are fairly straightforward and easy to understand. The procedure generally follows this format:

Begin Your Claim

Nationwide Insurance

Start your claim by calling Nationwide or accessing their online claims center website. It’s important to do this only after reaching out to police to report the accident and seeking treatment for anyone injured in the wreck. Once ensuring everyone is safe, though, reaching out to your insurance company is always a good idea.

A claims representative will begin your claim by asking you questions about your incident. They will explain your coverage and deductible and help arrange for a rental car if needed. They will also schedule an inspection of your damaged vehicle and go over the possible outcomes.

Be sure to have the following information on hand when you’re ready to start your claim with Nationwide:

• The name, insurance information and driver’s license number of the other driver
• A copy of the police report
• The names and contact information of any passengers in the car at the time of the wreck
• Any evidence of damage to your car, including photos or video you took at the scene of the accident
• Documentation of any injuries you or your passengers suffered in the incident

Prepare for Repairs

 In order to determine whether your vehicle needs repairs or an estimate, Nationwide allows policyholders to bring their vehicles to garages of their choice or to a Nationwide On Your Side Auto Repair Network facility. The inspection shouldn’t take long, and your claims adjuster will be in touch soon to update you on their findings. Should the estimated repairs outweigh the value of the vehicle, Nationwide will declare the car totaled.

Should this occur, Nationwide will work to determine the value of your vehicle and reimburse you with the amount, minus your deductible. If the other driver involved in the accident is found to be at fault and their insurance company assumes liability, they will reimburse you for your deductible. Nationwide can assist you with finding another car, too.

Settle Your Claim

 Whether your car is able to be repaired or is declared totaled by Nationwide, the payment issued to you is negotiable. While the sum may not be presented to you in a way that is framed as open to discussion, you have the right to negotiate a fair auto accident settlement in the wake of an accident. In many cases, Nationwide policyholders opt to hire a car accident attorney to handle negotiations for them. Whether you tackle these conversations yourself or outsource them to a more experienced legal mind, it’s important not to settle for anything less than what you feel you deserve for your damages.

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