With the fast-paced globalization of the insurance industry, more motorists are getting reports translated for insurance claims. Policies cover a broader range of insurance owners from various regions nowadays. Should you get involved in a road accident with a non-English-speaking person, not having access to accurate, reliable translations could impede the claims process.
To ensure you’re always ready no matter what happens on the road, read up on the importance of accurate translations when filing insurance claims. You never know when you’ll need them. It’s best to prepare for them now—familiarize yourself with when and how insurance claims are translated.
How Are Translations Used When Filing Insurance Claims?
Translations are more common in insurance claims than people think. Here are some instances wherein the policyholders might need to get their records translated into different languages:
An Involved Policyholder Is Not a Native Speaker
If you get involved in a road accident with someone who doesn’t speak English, e.g., tourists, diplomats, and immigrants, you might have trouble with communication. Literal translations don’t capture emotional nuances, after all. In these instances, consider hiring a professional translator to join meetings so that they can translate reports in real-time.
Ideally, your translator should also know car insurance jargon. Many phrases in insurance policies have precise, non-interchangeable definitions—loosely translating them based on context will only cause misunderstandings.
The Road Accident Occurs in a Foreign Region
If you get into a road accident while driving in a non-English-speaking country, you and the other parties involved would need a translator. You could probably translate your reports if you speak the local language. However, anybody coming out of an accident, minor or major, likely isn’t in the mood to translate thousands of words. Instead, offload the task to a professional so that you can focus on recovery.
Warning: Local car insurance plans don’t cover incidents outside the country. You must apply for a separate international car insurance policy through car rental companies or insurers. However, you can still ask your local insurance company about how road accidents overseas might affect your overall insurability.
Witnesses Are Not Native Speakers
Insurance companies might require witness statements from third parties, depending on the severity of the road accident. For instance, your lawyer could interview bystanders who were present during the incident. Unfortunately, they have little reason to cooperate. And if you can’t talk to them in their preferred language, they’ll likely opt out of providing statements altogether.
Supporting Documents Are Written in a Different Language
You’ll need a professional translator if the supporting documents are in a foreign language. It’s a common issue with incidents between international and local policies. Just consult your insurer before hiring a translator—some companies have specific requirements. They won’t let uncertified individuals handle sensitive documents.
The Importance of Accurate Translations in Insurance Claims
Here are the reasons why you should invest in accurate, reliable translation services when filing insurance claims:
1. Mistranslations Could Lead to Unjust Resolutions
Please remember that the people reviewing your claims reports likely go through dozens of them daily. Confusing them with mistranslations will only impede their judgment. Ensure that your translators convey the entire context of your report accurately and in detail—leave no room for assumptions.
2. Legal Requirement Compliance
Language accessibility is a legal requirement in most countries. Your insurer, especially when you’re in foreign, non-English-speaking countries, might require you to translate your reports beforehand. Otherwise, they won’t process your claim altogether. Double-check with your insurer about the legal requirements for translations and share them with your professional translators.
3. Properly Translated Documents Establish Trust
Sending complete, properly translated documents establishes trust. Whether you’re communicating with your insurer or the other party involved in a road accident, you’ll come across as professional. Alternatively, sending documents you just ran through Google Translate puts you in a bad light.
Warning: Double-check insurance jargon with no literal translations. You and your translator might have to provide additional context to these specific phrases.
4. Miscommunication Only Causes Further Stress
Road accidents are stressful enough without having to worry about delays and mishaps during the claims process. You deserve to focus on recovery. Going back and forth with your insurer to correct mistranslated sections will only hurt your mental and physical health. Let your professional translator handle these issues instead.
Tip: If you plan on suing the other parties responsible for any injuries and damages, work with legal professionals who speak your native language. You need clear, efficient communication to execute legal actions properly. With the right strategy, the court might award you more than what you seek for compensation.
Get Accurate Translations for Insurance Claims
Although AI translators are cheap and accessible, we advise against using them on formal documents. Mistranslations could cost you several grand when filing insurance claims. The best approach is to work with a team of professional translation service providers like Day Translations. Just tell our team what languages you need translated, and they’ll pair you with a native speaker.