Car Insurance Claims: All You Need To Know
Accidents are often unpredictable, and one of the most common types of accidents is a car crash. The emotional, physical, and financial toll that an auto accident puts on the victim and their family can be overwhelming.
While nothing can make up for the emotional trauma that a victim suffers, auto insurance coverage can provide the victim with compensation for damages, such as medical expenses, cost of repairs, a rental car if one is needed, and property damage.
To learn more about how to handle the many issues that arise in the aftermath of a car crash, you should contact a Fort Lauderdale auto accident lawyer. They can simplify the process of filing a claim and guide you on how to seek compensation for damage.
Seek Medical Attention for Injuries:
It is important to seek medical attention for any injuries immediately. If you do not attend to them quickly after being involved in an accident, the driver at fault may argue that you bear some responsibility for the severity of your injuries.
Gather as Much Information at the Accident Scene as You Can:
It is essential to gather evidence at the accident site, if you are in a condition to do so. You can photograph the crash scene from a variety of perspectives, as well as any vehicle damage or physical injuries.
Report the Accident To Your Own Insurer:
You will need to report the accident to your insurance company as quickly as possible regardless of whether you plan to file a car accident insurance claim with your own car insurance company or the negligent party’s insurer.
File an official report:
If you are at the accident site, you should contact the police to file an official report. You can also speak to the paramedics and witnesses on the scene. Retain a copy of the report. When you file a claim, you can then provide a copy of the official police report.
Hire a Legal Professional:
Last but not least, if you have suffered an injury in the crash, you should consider hiring a legal professional as soon as possible so that you can receive proper assistance at every stage.
Information To Have On Hand When You File A Claim
Most major insurers allow you to file a claim in a number of different ways. You can call the insurance company soon after the accident occurs and speak with them about how to proceed. You can also file a claim in person with an agent, through the insurance company’s mobile app, by email, or through the insurer’s online claims portal on its website.
By filing a claim through the app or online, you can check on the status of your claim at any time, as well as view or upload documents as the process moves forward.
Some of the Things You May Need to Provide During the Claims Process Include:
- A copy of the official police report from your accident. If you still do not have it, you can call the police department and request a copy.
- The insurance policy number and name for all drivers involved in the accident.
- The contact information for the passengers who were in your vehicle at the time of the accident. The contact information for any witnesses may also be useful.
- Documented evidence and clear pictures of the damage that your vehicle incurred.
- The contact information for a trusted repair shop for a second opinion on your damage estimate.
- Documentation of any accident-related bodily injuries, including your initial doctor or hospital visit, the results of that visit, and any other medical information that might be relevant to your case.
If you were involved in an auto accident that was not your fault, whether you may file a claim with the negligent party’s insurance company instead of your own insurance company can depend on the type of insurance you have and where you are located.
You may still have to pay a deductible to your insurance company until you can be reimbursed for your out-of-pocket expenses. It can be important to stay on top of the claims process to ensure that the insurance company fairly compensates you.
Some Facts and Statistics About Car Insurance Claims
In the year 2018, there were nearly 273 million vehicles registered in the United States. Various crashes happen on the roads of the United States every year. If we look at the 2018 statistics then there were nearly 34,000 casualties that were recorded due to car crashes.
This caused severe injuries to nearly 1.8 million people and 5 million car crashes that caused damage to property were reported. These statistics are enough to indicate that people think that if they are traveling in a car then they will be safe. However, this is not true. Therefore, people must have automobile insurance, not only because it is a legal requirement, but because it is prudent.
What are the most common car insurance claims?
Some of the common car insurance claims include:
- Minor Accidents: Some of the accidents that cause minimum damage to the vehicle and where no injuries are caused to anyone are fender benders. These are among the most common car insurance claims filed.
- Vandalism: This is the most common accident when car insurance claims are filed. This occurs when someone’s vehicle is smashed or broken or vandalized in some way. In these incidents, coverage depends on the act of vandalism and its severity. Quite often the cost of damage in an act of vandalism is less than the deductible, and so the car owner’s insurance policy will not pay. Any recovery of losses must be sought from the individual committing the negligent or criminal act against the car.
- Storm Damage: Damages caused to the vehicles from hail, floods, and storms can turn out to be quite costly. Therefore, people living in areas where storm damage is quite common must take extra care to protect their vehicles from damage.
- Single Vehicle Collision: Some drivers may collide with street lights, fence posts, and other stationary objects. Therefore, these are commonly filed claims.
- Theft: The driver’s car might be stolen. Therefore, if the driver has insurance coverage then they might get reimbursement.
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If your own insurance company cannot recover the cost of your accident or will not assist you, you may be able to pursue damages on your own. To avoid any unnecessary stumbling blocks in the process, seeking representation from an experienced lawyer can be helpful and improve your chance of receiving compensation.
A lawyer with extensive experience handling car accident insurance claims can be valuable in these types of situations. Contact an attorney today to learn about the options available to you for pursuing the compensation that you deserve.