An accident. A severe storm. A tree falling on your home. Water damage.
Nobody plans on having an insurance claim. But when something unexpected happens, knowing what to do next can make an already stressful situation much easier to manage.
At Langlois Insurance Agency, we’ve spent over 40 years helping individuals and families throughout New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Manhattan and the surrounding Lincoln-Way communities protect what matters most. And while finding the right insurance coverage is incredibly important, we believe something else matters just as much: Having a trusted, local insurance agent you can turn to when you actually need to use that coverage.
Whether you’ve been involved in a car accident or experienced damage to your home, here’s what every Illinois homeowner and driver should know about handling an insurance claim.
What Should I Do First When I Have an Insurance Claim in Illinois?
Quick Answer: If you have an auto or homeowners insurance claim in Illinois, your first priority should always be safety. Once everyone is safe and any immediate emergency has been addressed, contact your insurance agent or insurance company as soon as possible to discuss the next steps.
At Langlois Insurance Agency, we prefer that our customers contact our office first whenever possible.
Call Langlois Insurance Agency at 815-485-2106.
Why? Because we want to help you understand the claims process, answer your questions, and provide guidance before you navigate an unfamiliar situation.
If your claim occurs after our normal business hours, you can report it directly to your insurance carrier.
The important thing is not to delay reporting a claim while waiting for our office to reopen.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Illinois?
Being involved in an automobile accident can be frightening, even when the damage appears minor.
Knowing what information to gather and what steps to take can help make the auto insurance claims process smoother.
Step 1: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
Before worrying about vehicle damage or insurance coverage, check for injuries.
If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. If it is safe and appropriate, move your vehicle out of traffic to avoid additional accidents.
Contact law enforcement when required or when the circumstances warrant a police response.
Step 2: Document the Accident
If you are physically able to do so safely, gather as much information as possible.
Important details include:
- Date and time: When did the accident occur?
- Location: Where did the accident happen? Be as specific as possible.
- Description: How did the accident occur?
- Vehicle information: Record the year, make, and model of every vehicle involved.
- Vehicle damage: Describe the damage to each vehicle and take photographs when safe.
- People involved: Collect names and contact information for drivers and others involved.
- Injuries: Document any known injuries.
- Witnesses: Obtain names and contact information from anyone who witnessed the accident.
- Police information: Record the responding law enforcement agency and police report number, if available.
Having this information ready can help your insurance agent and insurance carrier begin evaluating your claim.
Step 3: Contact Langlois Insurance Agency
Before trying to figure everything out on your own, give our office a call.
Our experienced, licensed insurance professionals can help you understand the appropriate next steps, explain how the claims process generally works, and direct you to your insurance carrier when necessary.
We understand that filing an insurance claim may be something you rarely have to do. For our team, helping customers navigate insurance questions is part of what we do every day.
You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself.
Step 4: Understand Your Auto Insurance Coverage
Not every automobile insurance policy provides the same protection.
Depending on your policy and the circumstances of the accident, coverage may involve:
- Collision insurance for damage to your vehicle.
- Comprehensive insurance for covered non-collision losses.
- Liability insurance for covered injuries or property damage you cause to others.
- Medical payments coverage.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
- Rental reimbursement, if included in your policy.
Coverage, deductibles, limits, and exclusions vary by policy.
This is one reason we believe reviewing your insurance protection before an accident happens is so important.
What Should I Do If My Home Is Damaged by a Storm, Fire, or Other Unexpected Event?
Illinois homeowners know that severe weather can arrive quickly.
From strong winds and hailstorms to tornadoes and heavy rain, our communities experience weather events that can cause significant property damage.
And while storms are a common reason for homeowners insurance claims, damage can also result from fires, theft, certain plumbing incidents, and other unexpected events.
If your home has been damaged, the first step is to make sure everyone is safe. Then document the damage, take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage when safe, and contact your insurance agent or carrier promptly.
Step 1: Assess the Damage Safely
Never enter a home or damaged area that may be structurally unsafe.
If there are downed power lines, a suspected gas leak, active fire, or another immediate danger, stay away and contact emergency services or the appropriate utility provider.
Once it is safe, begin assessing what happened.
Step 2: Gather Important Information About the Property Damage
When contacting Langlois Insurance Agency about a potential homeowners insurance claim, we will want to know:
- When the damage occurred.
- A general description of what happened.
- The location of the damaged property.
- What parts of the home or property were damaged.
- Whether the home is still safe and livable.
- Whether temporary repairs are necessary to prevent additional damage.
- Whether the police or fire department responded, including the department name and report number.
- Your contact information and the best time to reach you.
Photographs, videos, receipts, and written documentation may also be helpful during the claims process.
Step 3: Prevent Additional Damage When It Is Safe
Homeowners insurance policies generally require policyholders to take reasonable steps to protect their property from further damage.
For example, this might mean arranging for a temporary roof covering after storm damage or shutting off a water supply after a plumbing leak.
However, never put yourself in danger to protect damaged property.
Keep receipts for emergency repairs and avoid permanently repairing or disposing of damaged items before they have been documented, unless safety or other circumstances require immediate action.
Step 4: Call Your Local Insurance Agent
At Langlois Insurance Agency, we want our customers to know they have a local team they can contact when something goes wrong.
We can help explain the next steps, discuss your policy’s coverage provisions, and assist with communication during the claims process.
Your insurance carrier and its claims professionals will investigate the loss and determine coverage and payment according to your policy.
Our role is to help you understand the process and provide knowledgeable, personalized service along the way.
Should I Call My Insurance Agent Before Filing a Claim?
Yes. Whenever possible, we encourage Langlois Insurance Agency customers to contact our office before submitting a non-emergency insurance claim.
There are several reasons this can be beneficial.
First, we can help you understand what type of coverage may apply to your situation.
Second, we can discuss your deductible and explain why it matters.
Third, we can help you understand the reporting process and what information the insurance company may request.
For example, imagine a homeowner discovers minor storm damage to their property.
Before making assumptions about what insurance will pay, it can be helpful to understand the policy deductible and applicable coverage provisions.
That conversation may help the homeowner make a more informed decision.
Important: Contacting your agent for guidance does not guarantee that a claim will not be recorded by your insurance carrier. You should never delay a required or time-sensitive claim notification to avoid a potential premium increase.
And if there is an emergency or our office is closed, contact your insurance carrier directly.
How Long Do I Have to Report an Insurance Claim in Illinois?
Report an insurance claim as soon as reasonably possible. Do not assume you have a full year to file a claim.
Insurance policies may contain specific reporting requirements, deadlines, and obligations following a loss.
At Langlois Insurance Agency, our customer claims guidance states that all claims must be relayed to our agency no later than 12 months after the occurrence.
However, this agency requirement does not replace your insurance carrier’s policy conditions, which may require earlier notice or contain separate deadlines for certain actions.
The safest approach is always to contact us or your insurance carrier promptly after an accident or property loss.
Langlois Insurance Agency: 815-485-2106
Why Does Having a Local Insurance Agent Matter When You Have a Claim?
When shopping for insurance, it’s easy to focus primarily on price.
But the true value of your insurance protection often becomes much clearer when something goes wrong.
Imagine discovering significant storm damage to your home or being involved in an automobile accident.
Would you rather have a local insurance professional you already know and trust to call with your questions, or try to navigate everything on your own?
At Langlois Insurance Agency, we believe relationships matter.
Our family-owned insurance agency has proudly served the Lincoln-Way area for over 40 years. We have built our reputation by providing knowledgeable advice, personalized service, and insurance protection designed around our customers’ needs.
We’re not simply here to help you purchase an insurance policy.
We’re here to help you understand the protection you’ve purchased and what to do when you need it.
Our customers have rewarded that commitment with hundreds of five-star Google reviews, referrals to friends and family, and decades of trust throughout our local communities.
That’s something we’re incredibly proud of.
Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance Claims in Illinois
Can I file an insurance claim directly with my insurance company?
Yes. You can report a claim directly to your insurance carrier. However, Langlois Insurance Agency prefers that customers contact our office first whenever possible so we can answer questions and provide guidance. After hours, you can contact your carrier directly.
What information do I need to file an auto insurance claim?
You should have the accident date, time, location, description of what happened, vehicle information, details of the damage, contact information for involved parties and witnesses, injury information, and any available police report number.
What information do I need to file a homeowners insurance claim?
You should document when and where the damage occurred, what caused it, what property was affected, whether the home is livable, whether emergency repairs are necessary, and whether emergency responders were involved. Photographs and receipts may also be helpful.
Should I file a homeowners insurance claim if the damage is less than my deductible?
If the loss is clearly below your applicable deductible, there may be no payment available under that coverage. However, damage can sometimes be more extensive than it initially appears. Contact your insurance agent to discuss the circumstances, your deductible, and any applicable reporting obligations.
Who determines whether my insurance claim is covered?
Your insurance carrier determines whether a claim is covered based on the facts of the loss and the terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of your insurance policy. Your insurance agent can help explain the process and answer questions.
What should I do if my insurance claim happens over the weekend?
If an accident or property loss occurs when Langlois Insurance Agency is closed, you can report the claim directly to your insurance carrier. Address immediate safety concerns first, document the incident, and contact our office when we reopen if you need additional assistance.
Can my insurance agent help if I have questions during the claims process?
Absolutely. At Langlois Insurance Agency, we encourage our customers to contact us with questions about their claims. We can help explain the process, clarify insurance terminology, and assist with appropriate next steps.
When You Have an Insurance Claim, Who You Chose as Your Insurance Agent Matters
Insurance is about more than protecting your home, vehicle, or personal belongings.
It’s about protecting your financial security and having confidence that you know where to turn when the unexpected happens.
At Langlois Insurance Agency, we take that responsibility seriously.
For over 40 years, our family-owned agency has helped individuals and families throughout New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Homer Glen, and the surrounding Illinois communities find insurance protection they can feel confident about.
And when our customers experience a claim, we want them to know one thing:
You have a local insurance agency that cares about you, answers your questions, and wants to help you through the process.
Whether you have questions about an existing claim, want to review your current coverage, or are looking for a trusted local insurance agency, we’d love to hear from you.
Langlois Insurance Agency
Serving New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Homer Glen, and the surrounding Lincoln-Way communities.
Call: 815-485-2106
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Insurance coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, and limits of the applicable policy. Claims decisions are made by the insurance carrier. This article provides general information and is not a guarantee of coverage or claim payment.