Date: November 8, 2005
For more information contact: Eileen Mallow, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, (608) 266-7843 or eileen.mallow@wisconsin.gov

Winter Weather and Insurance

A brief guide to automobile accidents and property damage

Madison, WI—Winter weather can cause severe damage to vehicles and properties. Typically, there are 17,000 automobile accidents in Wisconsin during months when the roads are covered with ice, snow, or slush. Late winter's melting snow and heavy rains can also cause flooding of both roads and personal property. In light of Wisconsin's Winter Awareness Week, the Insurance Commissioner, Jorge Gomez, is sharing some valuable information for consumers.

"Many consumers do not realize the limitations of their insurance coverage," said Gomez. "For example, flood insurance must be bought separately from homeowner's insurance. Also, consumers who carry collision auto insurance without comprehensive coverage are not covered in the event of damage to automobiles from hail, wind, or flooding." It is important to know what your insurance policy covers and what to do when filing a claim. Below are general guidelines to follow when dealing with an automobile accident or property damage.

If you are in an automobile accident:

• Call the police.
• Obtain information such as the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and license numbers of all persons involved in the accident and all witnesses. Also, record the time, date, location, road conditions, make and year of the vehicles involved, insurance information, apparent damage and injuries, and your version of what happened.
• Call your insurance agent with your policy number and other relevant information. Be sure you cooperate fully with the insurance company and ask your agent what documents, forms, and data you'll need.
• Take notes each time you talk to your insurance company, agent, lawyers, police, or others involved in the situation. Write down the dates, times, names, and subjects you talked about, as well as any decisions or promises made.
• Save any receipts and bills, including those from a car rental or hotel room if the automobile accident happens outside of your town.

If you have property damage:

• Call your insurance agent with your policy number and other relevant information. Be sure you cooperate fully with the insurance company and ask your agent what documents, forms, and data you'll need.
• Make the repairs necessary to prevent further damage to your property.
• Save all receipts, including those from the temporary repairs covered by your insurance policy.
• Determine and develop a list of damages to your property and submit it to your insurer. One list should be of all damages and a separate list should be of personal property items damaged beyond repair.

If you are unhappy with your insurance company's decision, you may request the loss be valued by appraisers who do not work for your insurer, file a complaint with the Insurance Commissioner's Office, or hire an attorney to represent your best interests.

OCI publications such as "Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance," "Consumer's Guide to Homeowner's Insurance," "Buying a Home and Your Insurance Needs," and "Settling Property Insurance Claims," can be ordered free from the agency by writing to OCI Publications, P.O. Box 7873, Madison, WI 53707-7873, calling 800-236-8517, or visiting the OCI Web site at oci.wi.gov.

Created by the Legislature in 1871, Wisconsin's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) was vested with broad powers to ensure that the insurance industry responsibly and adequately met the insurance needs of Wisconsin citizens. Today, OCI's mission is to lead the way in informing and protecting the public and responding to its insurance needs.