How can I get my car insurance company to pay my expenses?
If you have been injured in an Ontario car accident, you may be wondering who will pay for the expenses you incur during your recovery. In many cases, your car insurance company will be able to cover your expenses, but there is a specific process you have to follow in order for this to happen.
The first thing you need to do is to fill out an Expenses Claim Form (OCF 6). You can find this form on the following website: http://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/auto/forms/Pages/ocf_forms.aspx.
This form should be used to claim expenses that have not already been claimed through your health care provider. You can claim a number of different expenses on this form, depending on what benefits you are eligible for, such as rehabilitation treatment, transportation services, cost of hiring a caregiver, etc. All of the expenses that you claim on this form must have been incurred as a result of your accident and must be covered by your auto insurance policy. It is important to complete this form thoroughly and completely so that you don’t encounter any unnecessary problems with your claim.
You need to submit the Expenses Claim Form within thirty days of incurring the expense so make sure to keep track and to stay within that specified time-frame. You also need to include any receipt you have of your expenses so it is best to develop a system of organizing your receipts so that you can easily find them and include them with your form. Be sure to address your expense form to the appropriate adjuster from your car insurance company so that your claim gets to the right person. Also, keep a copy of your completed form for your files. Again, all of this may seem tedious but it is important to follow all of the details so that you can receive your claim.
If you do not receive any payment within thirty-five days of submitting your claim, follow up with the insurance adjuster. There could be a number of reasons why you haven’t received your payment so be sure to speak with the right adjuster to see what the delay or problem is. Remember to record all follow up in writing so either print e-mails or keep a copy of letters you send to the adjuster. This way you have something to refer back to if something goes wrong.
While no one really enjoys filling out forms and organizing receipts, it is worth it in this case in order to receive compensation for your accident-related expenses. It would be a shame to miss out on some financial reimbursement, so be sure to fill out the appropriate forms and follow all of the necessary steps.
