Last Updated on 11 months by Komolafe Bamidele
Car accident victims often experience pain and are overwhelmed due to their ordeal.
Car Accident Lawyers specialize in helping victims of car crashes through the often confusing claims procedure.
While attorneys can be a great resource, they may hide important information about your car accident claim.
This article reveals essential details regarding the claims procedure that confident attorneys specializing in car crashes may choose to keep from their clients.
You’ll be better equipped to prosecute the car accident claim if you have a firm grasp of these essential issues.
Let’s dive in.
1. Setting up the Claim
Following an accident, the insurance company representing the motorist who was at fault often pays most of the settlements.
To start the process, a claim must be made, and then a specific claim number needs to be given to that claim.
There are typically two ways to file a claim with the insurance company of the motorist who was at fault for the accident:
a) The other motorist notifies their insurance carrier about the claim.
b) Either you or your attorney notifies the insurance company representing the other driver of the claim.
There is a greater likelihood that the other driver will have submitted the claim to their insurance carrier if the vehicle damage was severe.
This is because the other driver may want their car repaired or be concerned about being sued.
2. Essential Information for the Claim
When filing a claim, the car insurance company wants certain information, which a Car Accident Lawyer won’t tell you such as the accident’s date, the covered driver’s policy number, and a concise explanation of how the accident occurred.
The insurance provider will also question any injuries you may have incurred as well as any damage that may have occurred to your car.
The case may be assigned to the right insurance adjuster using this information.
This is important since more experienced adjusters handle more outstanding injury claims.
3. Insurance Coverage Confirmation
Even though the insurance company has given you a claim number, this does not mean that you will be paid.
Your accident must first receive confirmation from the insurance company representing the motorist to blame for the collision.
Even receiving the other motorist’s insurance card at the accident site does not ensure you will be covered.
The policy must have been in effect at the time of the collision, meaning the other driver’s insurance premium must have been paid in full.
In addition, there shouldn’t be any exceptions or exclusions in the policy that might result in a claim being rejected, such as the other vehicle or driver not being included in the coverage.
4. Multiple Adjusters for Different Aspects
When injuries are involved, the insurance company representing the motorist who is at blame will often appoint two adjusters to handle the claim.
The property damage liability adjuster is responsible for compensation for damage to your vehicle or personal goods, such as a shattered mobile phone or watch.
The bodily injury liability adjuster, also known as the BI adjuster, is responsible for managing payouts for pain and suffering, as well as medical costs and lost income.
5. Determining Fault and Assessing Damages
The insurance adjuster is responsible for identifying who was at blame (liability) and assessing the severity of your injuries (damages).
The adjuster will analyze the traffic crash report and interview pertinent parties, including the driver of their insured vehicle, you, and any witnesses, to establish who was to blame for the collision.
Remember that even though they may ask for a recorded statement, you are usually not required to submit one because there is no contractual responsibility to do so.
Even so, they may still ask for one.
6. Gathering Medical Records and Bills
Your medical records and bills will be requested by the insurance adjuster so that they may properly evaluate the extent of your losses.
They may ask you to sign a medical authorization form to receive these documents; however, doing so is not often required.
Your personal injury claim will be paid out of the reserve that the insurance company is legally required to maintain to comply with the law.
This reserve can be nothing at all, or it might be a considerable amount.
Speeding up the procedure with Car Accident Lawyer by quickly delivering your medical records and bills to the insurance adjuster is possible.
This is because it frequently increases the settlement reserve.
7. Calculating Your Claim’s Value
Your case will be settled within the parameters of the settlement range that the insurance adjuster has established.
On the other hand, they do not reveal this information very often; as a result, it will be up to you or your Car Accident Lawyer (attorney) to determine the worth of your personal injury case.
To complete this computation, you must total up all of your out-of-pocket medical expenses, any missed income and a sum to account for your pain and suffering.
Calculating the value of your pain and distress might be difficult, but you must do it to appreciate its significance.
8. Evaluating the Need for a Car Accident Lawyer
Given how complicated the claims procedure is, you may be wondering if hiring a car accident lawyer is essential.
This is a reasonable question to ask. It is necessary to do a cost-benefit analysis before hiring a lawyer, even though they can give helpful support and experience.
Certain instances may be handled without the involvement of a Car Accident Lawyer, mainly where the injuries sustained are not severe, responsibility is obvious, and the settlement offer is reasonable.
However, if the case is more complicated or the injuries are severe, it is strongly suggested that you speak with a personal injury attorney or Car Accident Lawyer.
Conclusion
Legal representation after an accident with a car might be helpful, but even so, there are details about the claims procedure that your attorney might not share with you.
You might feel more prepared for the claims process if you have a strong grasp of claim setup, insurance coverage confirmation, the function of adjusters, fault assessment, and calculating your claim’s worth.
Remember that the more you know, the better your chances of negotiating a satisfactory settlement for your car accident claim with the involvement of a Car Accident Lawyer.