Getting involved in a car accident is always a scary experience, one that a lot of the time could also be fatal for the victims. Survivors tend to have post-traumatic stress disorders as well as sustained injuries, and the inevitable car damage that could leave the car obsolete. Today, auto insurance allows you to pay a premium so that in the event of such accidents you can file a claim to cover the costs of the car damage and sometimes even medical costs. In this article, we cover all you need to know about how to go about filing your insurance claim after an auto accident.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, the first thing you should do is hire an auto accident lawyer. Depending on the complexity of your case, a lawyer will help you handle all the back and forth with the insurance company while guaranteeing that you get the best settlement deal.
Insurance claims are of two types – first-party claims or third-party claims. A first-party claim is filed by the insurance holder to their company, while the third-party claim is filed by a victim with the insurance provider of the other party. Most auto insurance covers the third party.
The claim process starts by contacting your insurance company as soon as possible, whether or not you were at fault. This should be done after seeking medical help of course. After you file a claim, you will be required to present clear details of what happened, including the gravity of the injuries you and the other party sustained. This part is important because every detail matters, and from the insurance company’s standpoint, they will try as much as possible to cut costs (this is why you need a lawyer).
The insurance company then starts investigating your claim, during this stage, you will be required to provide physical evidence such as pictures of the accident scene, witnesses, etc. once the insurance company is done with their investigation, they will then calculate the value of your claim based on all the information available to them. After which they will issue you a settlement check if they approve your claim. On the other hand, your claim can also be denied after their investigations.
But it does not end there! If you denied or are unhappy with the amount they are proposing to settle, then you may negotiate with the company with the help of your lawyer, or appeal the decision entirely. This usually means you will need to provide more documentary evidence to support your claim.
To conclude, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible if you plan to file for a claim, it certainly will go a long way in ensuring that you get your money’s worth in the end. Also, make sure you do your research as well as go through the fine print of your insurance contract before choosing your insurance provider just so you get the best out of the agreement.
