If you are looking for car accident claims advice, you need to make sure you understand the laws and rules in your own state. Every car accident case is different and the rules vary depending on where you live, so getting the proper car accident claims advice is essential.
5 Tips for Accident Insurance Claims
1. Don't Assume an Insurance Company is On Your Side
If you are at fault of an accident, you have to recover (if at all) from your own insurance company. This means for property damage claims, you need to recover from your collision coverage and for claims from medical bills, you get recovery from personal injury protection (if you have it). Likewise, if someone else is at fault and doesn't have proper insurance, you may recover from your own policy under the uninsured motorist coverage. You may think that because they are your insurance company they have your best interests at heart--- but in reality, their focus is on cutting costs and saving money. If they can get you to accept a lower settlement offer, that benefits them (not you!) So, don't assume they are always acting in your best interests.
2. Understand Your State Laws
There are 12 no fault states in the US, which means if you live in one of these states, you cannot sue for your injuries unless those injuries meet a certain threshold (either of monetary cost or of seriousness). In other states, you are allowed to sue even for minor injuries. Make sure you know the rules as whether or not you live in a fault state will affect your recovery.
3. Make the Claim at the Right Time
In most states, you have a period of time between one and three years until the statute of limitations expires. Once it does, you cannot sue any more. Therefore, you want to make sure you make claims and settlement requests within this period of time. If, however, you settle too early, the full extent of your injuries may not yet be known. Ensure you know everything that is wrong with you and the final outcome of all of your medical treatment before accepting a settlement.
4. Know What You are Entitled To
If someone else injures you, you are entitled not only to recover for property damage to your car and medical bills, but also for lost wages, pain and suffering and in some cases even emotional distress or punitive damages. Make sure you understand what the law says you should get before you accept a settlement from an insurance company. Once you settle, it is too late to go back.
5. Get Legal Help
An experienced car accident attorney can guide you through the process and help you to determine if a settlement offer is fair. A car accident attorney can help you even if you aren't suing to negotiate with the insurance company and to evaluate settlement offers. Don't sign or agree to anything without having a professional legal evaluation of your case.
