In today's world, everywhere you look there is new technology in the form of smart phones, handhelds, notebooks, and tablets.

With an ever increasing and rising number of smart phone users, many companies have seen the need to develop and offer mobile apps for BlackBerry, Apple, and Android smart phones. The car insurance industry is joining in with the rest of the world to provide apps that make a policyholder's insurance needs easier to obtain. Allstate, Geico, State Farm, Progressive, and many more have offerings for the tech-savvy customer.

Each app differs slightly from another. For instance, some allow policyholders to gain access to policy information, file a claim, locate an insurance agent, contact customer service, and take and upload photos of damage at the scene, all from their mobile phones.

Some company apps feature step-by-step instructions in case a policyholder is in an accident. It is provided in the form of a checklist of the proper procedures for filing a police report and a claim. Check out Help I Crashed My Car, which provides similar information, for free. Most insurer apps are free, too.

Another app that I found to be of a tremendous benefit is iWrecked for iPhone. This app isn't provider specific, meaning it is applicable in general and not by the company with which a policyholder is insured. It is designed to help policyholders record the details of an accident accurately.

iWrecked gives policyholders the advantage of dating and viewing their accident history with a timeline. They can also take photos and put together an accident report including details, dates, locations, names, etc. They can then send it to their insurance carrier in PDF format.

The app also allows policyholders to search for information, such a taxi company for a ride, a towing company if their vehicle is not drivable, and other information that may be needed in the time of an accident. The best part, this app is free, too.

Not to be left out, there are apps for homeowners' insurers. These apps provide features that include, but are not limited to, a home inventory tool, which offers a great way for policyholders to keep track of personal belongings, categorize items by price and purchase date and organize them by room, and attach photographs and receipts. As a former claims adjuster, I can only imagine the possibilities presented with this phenomenal advancement.

Thinking all of this is great? With the good sometimes comes the bad. For instance, there are some companies that provide apps that allow drunk drivers to locate DUI checkpoints and therefore avoid them. On March 28, 2011, Senators Harry Reid, Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, and Tom Udall presented a letter they sent to smart phone companies calling upon them to immediately stop selling these apps.

“These applications enable drunk drivers to circumvent law enforcement checkpoints which are in place for the sole purpose of keeping our roads safe,” says Melissa Shelk, AIA vice president of federal affairs. “As drunk driving is one of the leading causes of automobile fatalities, these applications not only endanger intoxicated drivers, but all drivers on the road. Unfortunately, these companies are encouraging behavior that can prove deadly. Automobile safety has been and will continue to be one of the insurance industry's top priorities due to the unnecessary costs to society.”

There are some great uses for apps that provide access to a policyholder's insurance company and claim, with information at their fingertips regarding what to do when they have an accident. It has made documenting a loss a doable task. If your company does not have an app now, chances are promotion and use of some of the aforementioned apps will occur in the near future. Customer satisfaction and retention is a priority, especially in the property and casualty industry.

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