One car accident can cost you a lot. You may have to pay for car repairs, medical bills, and even lost wages if the accident prevents you from working. You must know how to file a claim so that you get compensated after an automobile collision. This article goes over some of the most common types of claims and what steps are necessary for each one.
When to file a claim
The first thing that you need to know in car accident claims is when you should file a claim. According to a seasoned car accident lawyer in San Diego, the answer varies based on the specific type of car accident claim that your case falls under, but there are some general guidelines you can follow. If someone else caused your car accident, and they have liability insurance or assets to cover what happened, then it may be worth it to immediately file a car accident claim. If the responsible party doesn’t have insurance or assets, then your case isn’t as strong, and you may want to wait until after an investigation is complete before filing a car accident claim.
Types of car accident claims
There are three main types of car accident claims: negligence-based wrongful death car accident claims, car insurance bad faith car accident claims and intentional car accident claims.
- Negligence-based wrongful death car accident claim
A negligence-based wrongful death car accident claim is the most common kind of personal injury case in which you can file a car crash lawsuit. To win this type of claim, you must show that the car accident was caused by someone’s negligence. You must also show how their actions or inaction led to your injuries and death (if applicable).
- Bad faith car insurance claims
In a car insurance bad faith claim, you attempt to prove that an insurer wrongfully denied or delayed paying out what is owed for a car crash victim’s car accident claim. You can file a car insurance bad faith lawsuit if you have the option of filing an underinsured motorist car crash claim or uninsured motorist car crash claim.
- Intentional car accident claims
When someone intentionally causes your auto collision, then you’ve been the victim of what’s known as an intentional tort and may be able to file car accident claims. The main difference between an intentional car crash and a car accident caused by negligence is that with the latter, the person causing your car collision didn’t mean for you to get hurt.
What steps are necessary
After knowing how to file a claim with auto insurance companies after an automobile collision or lawsuit against another party, you should know what steps are necessary after car accidents.
First of all, if your car accident caused any injuries, then it’s always best to seek medical attention right away. While some car crash victims don’t think about their car insurance claim until later on in the process, or they already know that their case will go to court, others may not know what car crash attorneys charge for their services and want to get a free estimate first.
If you already have an idea about the value of your car accident claim, then you can start working on gathering all relevant information as soon as possible. This includes calling the police if they didn’t come to your car collision scene or obtaining any eyewitness statements from other drivers.
The car accident claim process is much more complicated than simply filling a car crash lawsuit or car insurance bad faith claim, but knowing what steps are necessary can help you to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Since most car accidents cause injuries and property damage, it’s best not to put off your car accident claims until later on in the car accident claims process.
How car insurance companies calculate car crash settlements
When you’re in a car accident, the last thing on your mind is how car insurance companies will use their math to come up with car collision settlement offers. After all, that’s why you have an experienced attorney who understands how to file a claim and negotiate auto body repair costs and car insurance claims with other drivers’ car insurance companies.
It’s hard to know what the best course of action is when you’re injured in a car accident. If you’ve been thinking about filing a claim for damages, the tips above will be able to help you do so. The process can take anywhere from 30 days to 6 months depending on what type of coverage you have with your insurer as well as whether or not there are any complications such as injuries involved. Rest assured that when you complete all the steps you have to do, you will be compensated for the injuries you have sustained.
