If you get in a car accident, you will probably need to file a claim with your insurance company. That might seem like a relatively straightforward task, but it sometimes proves more difficult and time-consuming than you expected. You should know that sometimes you need a lawyer who can help you navigate the process.
You can get tips for finding the right car accident attorney if you visit social media message boards and other online resources. For now, let’s talk about a few details you should know about when you’re looking at the car accident claims process and don’t know what to expect.
The Process Begins When You Report the Accident
The claims process starts when you report to the police what happened. You’d immediately think you must tell the police when a car hits you, or you strike another vehicle. That’s true, but you should also file a police report if someone breaks into your vehicle or it sustains damage in some other way.
Whether someone vandalized your car or another vehicle hit it, when you report the incident to the police, there’s a record of it. That will always come into play when you’re filing a claim with your insurance company. The company will want to see that police report since it can confirm or refute what you say happened.
It Helps if You Collect Evidence
In some cases, your insurance company will let you collect the cash to repair your car without much trouble. However, in other instances, they’ll drag their feet or even refuse to pay you that money.
Keep in mind that insurance companies want to make a profit. The more money they can keep for themselves and not pay out in claims, the more their employees, particularly the high-ranking executives, can keep as bonuses.
That means the more material evidence you have that shows the car wreck or whatever else happened occurred just like you said it did, the likelier you can get the money you’re due with no issues. That often means taking as many pictures as possible at the accident scene. You can take smartphone videos as well.
If you can find any individual who saw the accident, you might get a statement from them. You can also relate to the police what happened to make sure they have all the pertinent details in their report.
If the crash injured you, your medical report might constitute evidence. Anything you can submit to the insurance company to let them know you told them the truth about the accident, the better your chances of collecting money from them without any trouble.
Don’t Admit to Any Wrongdoing When You Contact Your Insurance Company
After you’ve reported to the police what happened and gathered evidence, you can contact your insurance company. At this point, you should have a statement ready.
You should tell the truth when you talk to your insurance company’s representative on the phone. You should also realize that they’re recording these calls. If you say something you go back on later because it doesn’t paint you in the best light, they can use that against you if they deny your claim.
Tell the person you speak to what happened. You’ll tell them the names of everyone involved. You will describe when and where the incident occurred. You can tell them what the weather was like, what traffic conditions were like, and so forth. Do not leave out any details that you think will become important later.
During this call, you should also not admit any guilt, regardless of whether you think you caused the accident or not. The insurance company can investigate and determine guilt, and it’s best if you don’t say anything potentially harmful to your claim.
You’ll Speak to an Insurance Adjuster Next
You’ll next speak to an insurance adjuster. This individual works for the insurance company. You may speak to them on the phone first, but later, you must probably meet them in person so they can take a look at your car.
If you can still drive the car after the accident, you might meet the adjuster at a place they stipulate. If you can’t drive the vehicle any longer, the adjuster can meet you at the auto body shop or wherever else you took it.
The insurance adjuster knows about cars and how much they typically cost to fix. They will assess the damage and tell the insurance company how much it should cost to repair the damage. If they see that you’ve totaled the vehicle, they’ll tell the insurance company that.
The Insurance Company Will Accept or Deny the Claim
The final stage involves the insurance company’s investigation. They will conduct one independent of yours or the one the police did earlier. During this investigation, they will determine whether they think you told the truth. If they see that the damage to the car doesn’t match up with what you say happened, they might dispute the claim.
If the insurance company agrees that you told the truth and they must cover the damages under your policy, they will eventually cut you a check. You will use that money to pay to get the car up and running again.
Sometimes, though, the insurance company might indicate they don’t believe some aspect of your story. Insurance fraud does happen sometimes, and they might accuse you of it if they feel some part of the story doesn’t add up.
Ideally, the insurance company will accept the claim and pay you your money promptly. However, if they reject the claim, that might leave you feeling frustrated or even irate. If you told them the truth, but the insurance company denied the claim because of some technicality, that’s when you’ll probably need a lawyer.
An experienced attorney who knows car accident claims can often help you get the money you need to repair your car and move on with your life.