A property damage claim is an insurance claim that reimburses you for the costs of property damage caused by any accident, usually a car accident.
You file these claims when you aren’t injured, but either your car (or another type of property like your mailbox or home) was damaged as a result of a car accident.
Filing a property damage claim in Arizona is a routine procedure, but that doesn’t mean insurers make it easy.
Do you need to file a claim to pay for repairs to your car or another type of property? Here’s what you need to know.
Play Detective: How to Gather Evidence for a Property Damage Claim
Your success depends on your ability to collect and present concrete evidence about your claim to the insurer.
In most cases, it means calling the police, particularly after a car accident
Although calling the police for property damage under $1,000 is not required in car accidents, it’s the smart thing to do, particularly if you intend to file a claim.
A police report is very often required if you intend to file a claim because it provides robust, third-party confirmation of your story. However, if you do call the police, you should avoid saying anything that might admit fault because the officer will write it down, and your insurer will use it against you.
In addition to your police report, you also need to submit other physical evidence. If and when safe to do so, take as many photos of the scene as possible. You need pictures of:
- The damage to your property
- The damage to the other person’s property (if available/applicable)
- The rest of your property (other photos of the vehicle, etc.)
- The surrounding area (to indicate how the accident happened)
You should also write down a statement of events. Although this was previously something you might do at home, you can now use the voice note app on your phone to record the events (as long as it is safe to do so). Again, remember not to admit any fault in your record of events.
File Your Report within the Deadline
If you intend to file a claim with your insurance company, you need to decide whether to file quickly. Although your insurer will usually present you with deadlines for filing claims after an accident, waiting too long can make the process significantly harder. It also increases the likelihood of a denied claim.
If you intend to file a claim or sue the party who caused the damage, Arizona state law allows you two years to submit any personal property damage suits. The clock starts running the day the accident occurs. If the clock runs out and you try to sue, then the defendant can file a motion to dismiss, and the court will almost always grant it.
Who Pays for Property Damage?
If it’s your property, then you must file. But who pays for property damage claims?
The answer to the question depends on the type of insurance you have, who is at fault, and what happened.
If you are at fault, then your insurance company pays (as long as you aren’t underinsured), and usually, your insurance company raises your rates to compensate.
If you weren’t involved in the accident (e.g., if a motorist hits your parked car or mailbox), then it could go either way. In an ideal scenario, you know who damaged your property and got their insurance details. When the at-fault driver admits fault, you don’t have to pay – and neither does your insurance company.
However, if you don’t know who caused the damage, then things don’t look so good for your bank account. If it was a hit and run, you might pay out of pocket. And if you don’t have the right collision coverage, then you might not have coverage at all.
Coverage issues should be less of a problem for Arizonans compared to residents of other states. Arizona sets its minimum insurance requirements to include uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury coverages. However, these won’t cover property. Even still, you are more likely to have better insurance in Arizona than in states where the minimums are woefully underregulated.
The only exception is if the damage is done to your home by a car. In these cases, your home owner’s policy pays (minus the deductible).
Do I Have to Pay a Deductible for Their Insurance?
You only need to pay the deductible when your insurance policy pays for the damage.
If the other party is at fault, then you can file the claim against their insurance policy. That means you don’t have to pay a deductible because you aren’t filing against your policy.
The same is true of rate increases.
If someone damages your property, admits fault, and their insurance pays the claim, then you shouldn’t experience a rate hike because you weren’t at fault.
How Long Does a Property Damage Claim Take?
You should only wait about two weeks from the day you file until the day you receive a check. However, the two-week average assumes the case is cut-and-dry – and everyone is cooperative.
If the insurers involved can’t determine fault or new evidence comes to light, it can take longer.
It’s helpful to make yourself available during the waiting period. If your insurance company calls, make sure you pick up. Should they ask for additional documents, provide them ASAP. Communication and information are vital to processing a claim quickly.
Are You Filing a Property Damage Claim in Arizona?
Filing a property damage claim in Arizona is a standard process that all insurers are familiar with. You must provide as much information as possible to your insurer so they can work with the other party’s carrier to determine who owes what.
However, there are so many variables involved in a property damage case that it’s difficult to say what way the case will go. So much depends on what kind of insurance you have, what happened, and who is at fault.
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