The PD Claim Process

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To start a PD Claim, you must notify your auto insurance company about the loss of or damages (loss) to your insured automobile as soon as possible. The notice is generally required within seven (7) days of the loss or damages to your insured vehicle or as early as within 24 hours in some cases. 

You will be required to provide your insurance company with details regarding the loss, the actions you took after the loss and any further information necessary to investigate and process your claim. 

At the same time and on an ongoing basis, your insurance company will investigate your claim for a variety of reasons that include, but not limited to, whether or not 

• your policy was valid at the time of the loss
• you or anyone else reported the loss to the police
• you purchased or have the coverage for the cause (thief, collision, fire, etc.) of the loss 
• there was any policy violations
• you were at fault for the loss
• there is a party who can be blame wholly or partially for the loss
• etc.

Your insurance company will then determine  

1. whether they will cover your loss, 
2. under what covered cause for the loss they will cover your loss and 
3. how much they will cover.  

1. Whether they will cover your loss 

This will depend on if 

• there is a policy violation, 
• there is coverage for the cause of the loss or, 
• you are at fault, partially at fault or not at fault for the loss  

2. Under what covered cause of the loss they will cover your loss 

This will depend on the percentage of fault you are for the loss and/or the covered cause of loss on your auto insurance policy. 

100% at fault

Where you are100% at fault for your loss or there is no other person or entity (whether identified or not) to blame for your loss, your insurance company will cover the loss only if you have coverage for the cause of your loss. This is a first-party/contractual claim.

0% at fault

Where you are 0% at fault for damage to your vehicle resulting from a motor vehicle accident with another insured or identifiable driver, your insurance company will cover your losses as if they were the auto insurer of the at-fault driver. The is a third party claim through your own insurer known as direct compensation property damage.

1% - 99% (partially) at fault

Where you are 1% to 99% (partially) at fault for the damages to your vehicle as a result of a motor vehicle accident that involved another insured or identifiable driver, your insurance company will cover 

• the percentage of the damages to your vehicle for which you are not at fault - under direct compensation property damage, and 
• the percentage of the damages to your vehicle for which you are at fault - under the relevant cause of the loss if you purchased such coverage.  

3. How much they will cover

This will depend on the type of loss. The insurer will hire an appraiser to determine the market value of your vehicle if the vehicle is stolen or the cost to repair the damages are beyond the value of the vehicle. Where the vehicle can be repaired, the insurer will hire an auto mechanic to provide an estimate for the repairs and/or to complete the repairs.   

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