Filing A Car Accident Claim? Here’s What To Expect
In crowded metropolitan areas, the chances of getting into a car accident can be substantially higher. In many cases, there is the chance that you will be involved in a traffic accident.
If this has happened, it is essential to know all of the steps needed when filing a car accident claim.
When you are injured in an accident with another driver on the road, you can recover compensation for your injuries by taking legal action against them.
To get this done, there are steps that you must take to ensure that you file a car accident claim.
First, you will need to review the factors that may impact your case and then determine if it would be most beneficial for you to hire an attorney or if you can handle it on your own.
Here’s what to expect when filing a car accident claim:
Contact a Car Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a car accident, it is essential to note that insurance companies may fight your claim or refuse to increase your benefits if they don’t think that your injuries are as severe as you believe them to be.
When looking for an attorney to work with, check their charges on legal fees for a car accident claim to be sure of what is expected of you.
Even if you can handle everything on your own, hiring an attorney to work alongside you can be beneficial when it comes time for settlement talks.
This ensures that your interests are protected throughout the process and helps give you peace of mind knowing that you are not alone.
Inform Your Insurer
Once you have been injured in a car accident, your insurer will need to know about it regardless of what the final insurance claim may be for.
So even if you don’t plan on filing a car accident claim and want nothing more than medical bills covered and other expenses paid for by the at-fault party’s insurance company, your own vehicle insurance company will need a full report.
As a result, you can expect to be asked by your insurer about what happened and what impact it may have on your policy. Your treatment plans can also play a role in this conversation with your insurer.
Inform the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company
If another car is at fault, you can expect that their insurance company will want to talk with you about what happened. In addition, they will likely want to know the same thing your insurer asks—what happened and how it impacts your policy.
This should be a relatively simple process if you are clear about what transpired before the accident occurred (and there is no reason why you should not be).
Then, you know what happened and can explain it to their insurance company easily to understand.
File An Official Report Form
If you have been injured in another driver’s car, whether on purpose or not, you need to file an accident report with the local authorities.
This ensures a record of what happened and can help you file a car accident claim. Your insurer will want to see the official report, which means that it’s essential for your documentation purposes.
The more evidence you have about what happened, the better off you’ll be when it comes time to gather information about why this accident occurred and who is at fault.
Transportation Expense Coverage
Transportation expenses are “expenses you incur to transport yourself or family members because of a covered loss.”
For example, transportation expenses can include mileage reimbursement for using your vehicle after the accident if the other driver’s insurance does not cover this expense.
Transportation expenses can also include the cost of renting a car, taxi fare for picking up or dropping off your vehicle at the repair shop, or mileage to and from your regular job if you are only able to work part-time due to your injuries.
If you already have TEC on your insurance policy (extra coverage that you pay for), you will be reimbursed based on the terms of your plan.
For example, if you can prove that it is more convenient for your car to be repaired or more manageable for you to travel around town with a rental car, this expense might be covered by TEC.
From start to finish, filing a car accident claim is complicated. However, understanding what needs to happen throughout the process will ensure that your interests are protected and that you will find closure about what happened on the road.
Hence, you can ensure that your case is as strong as possible when moving forward with the process.