If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you’ll need to file a car accident claim with your insurance company to compensate you for injuries suffered in the accident. Chances are, you pay a lot of money every year for your auto insurance policy, so don’t be shy about filing a claim when you need to. Filing a claim after your car accident is easier than you might think. Here’s what to do:
Contact Law Enforcement
After the car accident, you should call the police so they can come to the scene. It is important that a police report be filled out; in many cases, the police report is an important part of assigning blame in the accident. Usually, the responding police officer will give his or her opinion about who caused the accident, as well as collecting evidence, contact information for witnesses and other drivers involved, and helping ensure the accident scene is kept safe and intact.
Collect Information & Take Pictures
You will need to have evidence of the car accident, as well as all injuries the accident may have caused. If you can, take pictures of the crash scene, your injuries and property damages. Also take photos of the cars involved in the crash and their position before they are moved by the police or towing company. The more information you have that shows what happened, the stronger your car accident claim will be. In addition to photos, make sure to exchange contact and insurance information with any relevant parties – either other drivers/passengers involved in the accident or 3rd party witnesses that may have seen how the auto accident happened.
Call Your Insurance Company
Call your auto insurance company right away after a car accident. You can even call from the crash scene as you are waiting for the police, if you can. Your insurance adjuster is highly trained to handle car accident claims and they will provide you with a list of everything you need to do, phone numbers to call, etc.
If the car cannot be driven, they will tell you what to do with the vehicle, including how and where to tow it. Once you have spoken your insurance company they will open a claim and begin the car accident claims process.
Claims Specialist Is Assigned
The insurance company will assign a car accident claims adjuster to your settlement case. The adjuster will deal with any discussions with other parties, including the other driver and insurance company. They will look at the circumstances of the crash and will work on your behalf to get the car accident claim settled.
Your vehicle will be taken to a collision repair facility and the adjuster will contact that shop to get an idea of what repairs are needed. The claims adjuster may go to the shop physically and perform an assessment of your vehicle damages in some cases.
The claims adjuster will also review your car accident settlement claim, if any, and will work with you to handle the cost of medical bills.
Finish Medical Treatment
When it comes to getting a fair settlement for car accident injuries, it’s important to finish all your medical treatment and make sure you have a full and complete picture of all the injuries you suffered in the auto accident. Once you’ve signed a car accident settlement offer and accepted, you’ll no longer be able to receive any additional compensation for your injuries, so it’s crucial to make sure all injuries and medical bills are accounted for prior to signing.
Get Your Car Fixed and Car Accident Claim Paid
After the claims adjuster has performed their research and inspection, you should know what it will cost to repair your car. You also will know if you have to pay your deductible. If the accident is the fault of the other driver, you may be reimbursed your deductible later.
Making Sure The Car Accident Claim Goes Smoothly
If you are having trouble with your car accident claims adjuster, you can speak to your insurance agent who sold you the policy to get it resolved. Also, if you are dealing with an accident with a lot of damages and injuries, you may want to consult with a personal injury attorney to take over negotiations for you.
