Question:
Isn't my agent supposed to handle my claim even if the other driver
was at fault and received a ticket? My agent told us that it was
our responsibility to deal with the other person's company.
Isn't that why I pay for full coverage, so that my agent will take
care of whatever I need? Why else do I have an
agent?
Answer:
Auto insurance agents are not there to help you with your
auto accident claims.
In general each state requires one type of license to sell
insurance and another to handle claims.
A car insurance agent is there to:
Insurance agents are familiar with the claims process, but
aren't licensed to assist in it. That is left up to licensed
insurance adjusters who work for the claims department of your car
insurance company. (See "Do you really need a car insurance
agent?")
Just because you have "full coverage" doesn't mean that your
insurance company (and specifically your agent) will take care of
all issues that pertain to your vehicle. Typically, the term
full coverage is used to mean you have not only state required
liability coverages but also physical damage coverages of collision
and comprehensive.
With collision and comprehensive you can make claims against
your own car insurance policy if your vehicle is damaged in a
covered event. But even in such a situation, your agent wouldn't be
the one to take care of the claim; it would be a claims
adjuster.
When you're damaged by another driver and want to make a claim
against that party's auto insurance company (so that you will not
have to pay your collision deductible or have a claim listed on
your own car insurance loss history), you are responsible for
making that claim with the other driver's insurer.
Your own auto insurance company is not normally involved because
your policy isn't being utilized in any way. The other
driver's auto insurer will investigate and pay out on the claim;
your car insurance provider isn't involved in this process, just
the other insurer, so you are the one that needs to file the claim
and work with the other insurance company.
You can of course call your car insurance company and inform
them of the accident and that you will be making a claim with the
other party's insurance company. Your insurer will then note this
and should be ready if the other party turns out to be uninsured or
other issues arise and you have to make a collision claim through
your own policy instead.
When a claim is made through your own policy and another party
is at fault, then your insurance company will be fully involved to
pay out your claim and go after the other party's insurance company
(through subrogation) to recoup what it paid out for your
claim.