Stage 1
Right after the crash
The first hour decides a lot: safety, documentation, what you say, and what you exchange. Do it in the right order and your claim is far stronger. Read: what to do after a car accident in California →
Stage 2
Filing the claim, and what if it's denied
California's Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations require insurers to acknowledge, investigate, and decide claims within set deadlines, and to give a written reason for any denial. If you are denied, you have a clear path: appeal internally, then file a free complaint with the California Department of Insurance (1-800-927-4357). Read: what to do when your claim is denied →
Stage 3
If your car is totaled
California uses a total-loss formula rather than a fixed percentage, and the payout must equal a comparable vehicle's value plus tax, transfer, and prorated registration. Know how the number is built so you can challenge a low one. Read: how a totaled car is valued in California →
Stage 4
The lost resale value after repairs
Even a perfectly repaired car is worth less with an accident on its record. In California that “diminished value” is generally recoverable only as a third-party claim against the at-fault driver, within three years. Read: diminished value claims in California →
When the other driver has nothing
Uninsured and underinsured motorist
Roughly one in five California drivers is uninsured. If the at-fault driver can't pay, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is what protects you. Read: uninsured motorist coverage in California →
Talk to a person
We help you work the claim, in English or Vietnamese
As your licensed broker, Kevin Vu (California license #4037122) can help you read your policy, gather what the insurer needs, understand a settlement or denial, and re-shop your coverage afterward, in English or Vietnamese. We are not attorneys; for injury claims or a bad-faith lawsuit, we will point you to legal help.