Auto Insurance Claims: 1st time involved in accident, rental car insurance, pain and suffering settlement


Question

Hi, first of all, thanks for helping.  I had a car accident yesterday morning.  Since this is the first time I have ever been involved in an accident, I hope you can give me some advice on how to deal with it.  
I was driving on the high way during the rush hour, the traffic was very slow.  I was following all cars in the front and kept a safe distance away from the front car. Suddenly I was hit from behind but I didn't hit the front car.   The police came later on and give me only an information exchange form.  I haven't got a chance to get the final police report yet.  I called my insurance company and was told the case will be handled by the other driver's company.  I called them, they got my story and called back and arrange me a rental car.  A appraiser came to my house this morning to evaluate the car.  I then was told they will pay $1500 for fixing the car and 4 days of rental car costs.  I have two questions:
1.  I missed one day of work yesterday.  How can I get compensation for that?
2.  When I pick up the rental car, I was told the insurance company won't cover the insurance for the rental car. Most of the credit car cover rental car insurance, but since my rental was paid by third party, it is not covered.  Is there any way I can get that money back? (The insurance is about $20 per day.)
3.  Do I have to report DMV for this accident? Also I was told I have to get the police report myself to provide it to the insurance company, is that true?
4.  Is there anything else I need to do or pay attention to?


Answer
Hi Sally,
I'm sorry to hear of your misfortune.  I have to assume that you don't carry collision on your car, otherwise, your own company should be more helpful and your policy would follow you to cover the rental car at no charge.

If the day of work that you lost was due to your going to ER or your family doctor due to injuries from the accident, it will be later included as part of your pain and suffering settlement.
If it was due to the inconvenience of the accident, you can ask the claims adjuster for reimbursement at the same time that you ask reimbursement of the rental car insurance.  If you were not injured, it's doubtful that you will be reimbursed for either.

If you are feeling any pain in your neck or back today or tomorrow, you should go to ER for a full check over and x-rays and then follow up treatment with a medical doctor and prescribed physical therapy.

Since you are the one filing the claim, the insurance company is being cheap and requiring you to get a copy of the police report.

Your own insurance company is the only party that can file a report with DMV regarding the accident because the form must be signed showing that you have insurance.  Make a photocopy of the police report so you can give them the information about the other driver.

I strongly recommend that you have yourself checked for injuries
immediately.  If a problem starts a week from now, the insurance company will deny coverage and claim that it was caused by some other occurrence.  Creating medical bills now will assure you of a 'pain and suffering' settlement which will off-set your other losses such as the missed day of work and the cost of the rental insurance, and you need to do this in the event there is a serious injury to your neck or back that takes a while to be shown.

I hope this information has been helpful.
Your feedback by rating my answer will be appreciated.

Sincerely,
Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area