Accidents can happen. They can also be very costly. Insurance helps cover unexpected costs such as car accidents, house damage, or medical emergencies. Most people hate having to call their insurance companies, as they know that the process of filing claims can be lengthy, complex, and frustrating. If you’ve been in an accident recently, you don’t want to deal with more paperwork or phone calls.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Contact your car insurance company immediately if you are involved in an accident. The following information will be required:
- Your policy number
- The accident date and time
- A description of what happened
- Names, contact information, as well as insurance information for all other drivers involved in this accident
- Names and contact information for any witnesses to the accident
Filing a Police Report
You should file a police incident report immediately after an accident. This will provide an official record of the accident and will be useful when you file your insurance claim. You can request a police report from your local police station if you have not received one at the scene.
Wait for an Adjuster
Once you file your insurance claim, an adjuster is assigned to your case. The adjuster is responsible for investigating your accident and determining the amount you owe the insurance company. Your case will be sent to an adjuster or lawyer if necessary.
Request a Report
After an adjuster has completed their investigation, you will be given a report detailing their findings. The report will contain information about the accident and an estimate of your damages. You will only need to agree to the adjuster’s assessment and sign it. You can also negotiate with your insurance company to get a higher settlement amount if you disagree with the adjuster’s assessment.
Get Your Payment
Insurance companies typically will only pay for damages they consider reasonable and necessary. You may not get all the money you are owed by insurance companies, but it is important to get as much as possible.
This post was written by Kelly-Ann Jenkins of Jenkins Law P.L. Kelly-Ann is a car accident lawyer in St Petersburg. She focuses on personal injury, car accidents, and bicyclist injuries. The information on this site is not intended to and does not offer legal advice, legal recommendations, or legal representation on any matter. Hiring an attorney is an important decision, which should not be based on advertising. You need to consult an attorney for legal advice regarding your individual situation.
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
