A car accident insurance claim typically starts with an accident. If you are involved in a car collision, there are some very imperative things you should do at the collision site to the extent you can. At the first chance, you should report the crash with your insurance carrier and begin the steps of filing a claim. After you have submitted your claim, an employee will either call, write or email you with regard to your claim. She will then look at your policy to determine the types of provisions you have, deductibles, and any coverage limits that may affect your claim.
If your claim is uncomplicated, the agent may have you get an estimate for repairs and then send you a payment. You will have to fill out some documents, but you may not have to meet with the agent in person. If your claim is more complex, then the negotiation process will take more time.
In relatively vague injury collision claims, representatives typically must do some inquiry in order to appropriately establish the insurance company’s liability. The adjuster will comb through your agreement and possibly contact witnesses to the scene, the other party to the incident, look at the crash report if there is one, take pictures of the damages and scene of the accident and generally verify your medical expenses by sending out requests to your medical professionals for information regarding your treatment. If you are seeking to have medical bills paid for, the agent will send you a medical authorization release for the release of your medical history.
Once the insurance agent has inquired into your claim and looked at your agreement, he or she will generally send you a settlement offer. The settlement offer will tell you what the insurance company is willing to pay on your claim. This initial offer is usually on the low side. After all, the adjuster’s intention is to save his or her employer money. But the adjuster also wants to close a incident and thus is typically authorized a settlement range that offers room for negotiation.
If you are sure about how much you think your claim is worth, you can preempt the adjuster’s settlement offer with your own settlement letter. Your proposal would describe fault, injuries and ask for a specific amount to settle your claim.
If you’ve already got an initial offer from the insurance company, keep in mind that first offers for settlement are almost always on the low side. Then, unless you’re willing to go with that first offer without an argument, you will ultimately need to negotiate with the insurance company for a higher settlement.
If your insurance claim is rejected in whole or in part, there could be many legitimate and objective reasons. Most have to do with limits in your coverage. You can check the rejection letter against your policy to see if the denial seems fair or not. If you still think your claim was unfairly rejected, don’t wait too long to take action. If you sit on your claim for too long, you may lose the right to sue in court to get your recovery. Discuss your claim with an auto accident attorney who will be able to help you.
If you’ve been the victim of a serious car accident in Baltimore, you need the advice of an experienced Maryland car accident attorney. Talk to a local Maryland car accident attorney about your options.