Filing an automobile accident insurance claim is rather tedious. You need to report the accident right away with your insurance provider and begin the process of filing a claim if you want immediate action. After submitting your claim, someone who works for the insurance company called a claims adjuster will contact you about your claim. The adjuster will then look at your policy to know the types of coverage you have, deductibles, and any coverage limits that may affect your claim.
If your automobile accident insurance claim is simple such as if fault is not an issue, the damage was minimal and little or no medical treatment was needed, the adjuster will get an estimate for repairs and then send you a check. If you’re already satisfied with it, all you have to do is fill out some paperwork, and meeting with him wouldn’t be necessary anymore. If your claim is more complicated, for example, liability is unclear, you do not have sufficient coverage, or you do not agree with the settlement offer, the negotiation process will take longer.
For a complicated automobile accident insurance claim regarding medical bills, adjusters will typically do some investigation in order to effectively assess your insurance company’s liability. He will comb through your policy and probably contact witnesses and the other party of the accident, check the police report if there is one, and take photographs of the damages and scene of the accident. He will also send out requests to your medical providers for information regarding your treatment.
Once the adjuster has investigated your automobile accident insurance claim and looked at your policy, he will send you a settlement offer. The settlement offer will tell you what the insurance company is willing to pay you. It could be all, part, or none. This opening offer is normally on the low side because realistically speaking, the adjuster’s job is to save his employer money. The adjuster would also want to close a case and therefore is allowed a settlement range that offers room for negotiation.
In cases where your automobile accident insurance claim is denied in whole or in part, there could be many legitimate and reasonable reasons, which mostly have to do with limits in your coverage. If you think your claim was unfairly denied, don’t wait too long to do it because you may lose the right to sue in court to get your recovery. Each state has a statute of limitations or a time limit for filing a case in court.
