Steps in Car Accident Insurance Claims

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Car accident is one of the leading causes of personal injury. A few suffer minor injury but almost half of that involved severe injuries, permanent disability and death.

A recent study shows that car accident results thousands of deaths each year. In fact, it is the leading cause of death of people between the age of 6 and 27.

Having been involved in a car accident is a traumatic experience. Aside from the physical pain and suffering, there is emotional distress, loss of income and property damage. All of these constitute financial compensation, which one can recover from the party at fault or from his insurer.

How to determine damages after a car accident

After a car accident, the next thing to do is to ask for compensation for the injury and other damages suffered. With this, the help of a capable car accident insurance lawyer is certainly needed.

The following are the steps to consider in filling your claim.

Secure a copy of the police report.
Know what protection your insurance policy will provide.
Sign a medical release so that a copy of the medical record will be presented to the insurance company.
Make a claim for physical injuries under medical pay coverage.
If the other party is at fault, make a claim under the uninsured motorist coverage.
Secure at least two car repair estimates if your car is totaled.
Present estimates and allow your car to be photographed.
Present bills for storage and towing cause.
Ask your agent to help arrange a temporary substitute vehicle if you have rental reimbursement coverage.
Notify your agent for any damages discover during the repair.

After filling your claims against the party at fault, you can also file a claim against your insurer. Filling a claim against the latter requires patience and hard work. The following are essential dos and don'ts that will guide you to facilitate your claim.

Do's

Do contact your insurance company immediately after the accident.
Do take time to read your insurance policy. This will guide you on what kind of claim you are covered.
Do your best to get details of the accident. You can also take pictures of the damaged vehicle or get the number of the witnesses.
Do make a note of the insurance detail of other persons involved in the accident.
Do keep a written account of your conversation with the insurance agent and other people involved in the accident.
Do keep receipts and bills of all expenses incurred in the accident to be presented to your insurer.
Do be frank and honest to your insurance collector so that your claim will not be denied.
Do check if you have other insurance policy that provides coverage for the same accident or injury.
Do consult a car accident insurance lawyer.

Don'ts

Do not admit any liability. Just stick on the facts without giving any opinion.
Do not give anything in writing to your insurance officer especially if you do not understand some part of our claim.
Do not let any time limit of your insurance claim runs out. Most of insurance company provides a period for filling claim after an injury. Do not disregard the period or else your claim will not be considered valid.
Do not take everything that your insurance agent tells you especially with regard to your claim. Most insurance companies like to settle claims in an amount smaller than that actually suffered.
Do not sign anything that is a release or a waiver of anything. If you are ask to sign and you are not sure of it call an attorney.
Do not take a check as a full and final payment unless you are certain that it is a fair compensation of your claim.

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