Dealing With the Insurance Company After a Car Accident

To protect your rights and your future insurance claim is handled fairly, it's crucial to be well-prepared with knowledge and evidence of the incident. Since each accident is unique, taking the necessary steps can make all the difference.

• Seek medical attention: Even if you don't feel any immediate pain or discomfort, it's important to get a medical evaluation as soon as possible after a car accident. A medical evaluation can help detect any injuries early and provide necessary treatment. If your injuries require emergency treatment, an ambulance can transport you to the hospital.
• Contact the police: After ensuring your safety, call the police to report the accident. The police report will include key details such as the time, location, and parties involved, which can be crucial in determining fault and damages.
• Collect evidence: Gather as much evidence as possible, such as the other driver's contact information, photos of the accident scene and damage, and witness statements. These details can help support your claim and increase your chances of receiving fair compensation.
• Document everything: Keep detailed records of all the information related to the car accident such as police reports, medical bills, and repair receipts. This documentation can serve as valuable evidence for your insurance claim or if you decide to file a lawsuit.

To begin the claims process, you must first contact your insurance company as soon as you can after your accident. This is important for several reasons. First, many insurance policies require you to report an accident within a specific time frame to qualify for coverage. Failing to do so could result in your claim being denied. It also expedites the claims process. The sooner you notify your insurance company of the accident, the sooner they can begin investigating the accident and evaluating your claim.

However, it’s important to keep your comments to the insurance company brief. Insurance companies, even your own, are focused on paying victims as little as possible to protect their bottom line. Stick to the basic facts of what happened and refer them to your attorney if they have further questions.

It's important to note that depending on the state you live in, there may be laws governing the time frame within which you need to file a claim. To determine what the statute of limitations is in your state, consult an experienced car accident attorney who is familiar with your local laws.

A claims adjuster will be assigned to your case and will be responsible for determining the amount of compensation that you’re entitled to. When it comes to negotiating, many claims adjusters may offer a lower settlement amount than what you’re entitled to. In this case, it’s best to seek the assistance of an experienced attorney who can negotiate on your behalf. If negotiations fail, you may have the option to file a lawsuit.

While most states have laws requiring drivers to carry auto insurance, there are many different types of coverage available. Some of the most common types of car insurance coverage include:

Fault plays a crucial role in every car accident. Liability coverage is designed to protect you if you are found responsible for an accident. There are two types of liability coverage: bodily injury (BI) liability and property damage (PD) liability.

Bodily injury liability coverage is a type of car insurance that covers the medical expenses and other related costs of individuals injured in an accident for which the insured driver was at fault. This includes covering hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. Your bodily injury liability coverage pays for these costs to another person injured in an accident you caused. Conversely, if you were injured in an accident caused by someone else, their bodily injury liability coverage should pay for your damages.

Property damage liability coverage pays or the cost of repairing or replacing any property that has been damaged. This could include damage to another car, fences, buildings, or other types of property.

Nearly all states require some form of liability coverage, but the minimum policy limits vary widely from state to state. Since you can’t control how much insurance the other driver has, it’s important to protect yourself with uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (see below).

Collision coverage is a type of car insurance that protects your vehicle in the event of a collision, regardless of who is at fault. This type of coverage can cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.

Collision coverage is particularly useful if you own an expensive or new vehicle that would be costly to repair or replace. Without collision coverage, you would have to pay for the repairs or replacement out of pocket, which can be a significant financial burden.

Collision coverage is generally optional as far as the law is concerned. However, if your vehicle is financed, the lienholder may require you to carry it.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive coverage protects you from damage to your car from events such as theft, fire, hail, floods, or vandalism. Comprehensive coverage can also provide coverage for damages caused by hitting an animal, such as a deer or a moose, which is not covered under collision insurance. Like collision, comprehensive coverage is generally optional under the law but required by lenders for financed vehicles.

No-fault benefits

Depending on the state you live in, you may be eligible for personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments coverage (MedPay), or both. These are types of no-fault insurance that pay for your injuries in a car accident no matter who caused it. The basic difference between PIP and MedPay is that MedPay covers medical bills only, whereas PIP covers medical bills and some other expenses such as lost income or replacement services. PIP and MedPay are optional in some states and mandatory in others. The minimum and maximum policy limits also vary by state.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

When you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance, uninsured motorist coverage (UM) is there to cover you on medical bills or repairs needed on your vehicle. Underinsured motorist insurance (UIM) covers you in the case you’re hit by a driver whose car insurance falls short of covering your accident-related expenses. UM and UIM are mandatory in some states and optional in others.

How a car accident lawyer can help

An experienced lawyer can provide valuable assistance in dealing with insurance companies after a car accident. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers and adjusters who try to pay you as little as possible. A skilled car accident attorney can help you navigate the complex insurance claims process and negotiate with insurance companies to fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you have been involved in a car accident and are facing a difficult insurance claim process, contact an attorney and schedule a free consultation today.