Do’s And Don’ts When Filing An Insurance Claim

If you’ve been involved in an automobile accident, you probably have a number of questions racing around your head about how to proceed with a claim. There are some things you should definitely do in the wake of an automobile accident with injuries, and some things you should certainly avoid. We separate those actions into a “Do” and “Don’t” section in today’s blog.

What To Do When Filing An Insurance Claim

For this blog, we’re only going to focus on the claim aspect of what you should do following an accident. You should always seek medical attention and legal assistance following an accident with injuries, but for the sake of this blog, we’re going to stay hyper-focused on the insurance claim aspect. So here’s what you should do:

Do call your insurance company and notify them very soon after the accident. Waiting more than a day can set off some red flags with their fraud department.

Do document the call on your end when reporting the accident. Record who you spoke with, what you spoke about, and the times and dates at which you spoke.

Do research on your own insurance. You may have supplemental coverage from a homeowner’s policy, an umbrella policy or another auto insurance policy. Also look into gap coverage if you owe more on your car than what insurance will give you for the value of your car.

Do keep a record of expenses, including money you spent on medical bills, car rentals and costs associated with the accident.

Do make notes of anything extra that was damaged or lost in the accident, like a custom stereo system or your work laptop, as you can be compensated for these losses as well.

What Not To Do When Filing An Insurance Claim

On the flip side, here are some things you should avoid doing when working with an insurance company after an automobile accident.

Don’t accept an estimate or offer from the insurance company until you can further investigate yourself. When examining the offer and your vehicle’s worth, make sure the check only covers property damage and is not a full and final payment.

Don’t sign anything or provide the other driver’s insurance company with a statement before determining how you wish to proceed with your claim (An attorney’s help with this step is crucial).

Don’t assume the insurance company has your best interests at heart. They aren’t profit giants because they easily hand out big payments. Accept that you’ll have to fight to earn a fair compensation package.

Don’t rush to settle. We understand that you want to get back to your normal life, but don’t leave thousands of dollars on the table because you didn’t want to spend an hour reviewing all your compensation options.

For more tips or answers to your questions about your car accident claim, reach out to the experienced legal team at Margolis Law Firm today.