According to research carried out in the United States by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 6 million motor crashes are reported annually. It can happen to anyone, and they are lots of liabilities at stake. You can lose property or get injured plus you can use a substantial amount of money in repairs and medical expenses.
This is why you can file a claim against the other motorist’s insurance company if the accident was not your fault. The process can be cumbersome though. So, we have gathered a few guidelines to follow when you are filing a claim against another motorist’s insurance company.
Gather evidence from the scene
For starters, if you can talk or rather, if the accident is minor, then try to work and gather information. With your phone, take pictures of the vehicles involved in the accident, areas around the accident and the people involved. Make sure you talk to witnesses if any. Get their names and contact information. Let them write what they saw and convince them to testify if contacted. This information will help you in case the other motorist denies any allegation and it will act as your evidence in court. You should also get the motorist’s name, contact details and insurance details (from the insurance card) for ease of communication with their insurance company.
Related: Here are 5 Tips to Deal with a Work-Related Car Accident
Assess your situation
Before you make a claim, you should assess the best way to get compensated for the accident, depending on your situation and the laws where you are. For example, if you have collision coverage then your car is covered over physical damage that occurs from collision with other vehicles. If you have uninsured/underinsured motor coverage, your car damages are covered from motorists who do not have insurance or whose policy cannot cover all your damages. I
f your coverage is Personal injury Protection, then your medical expenses will be catered for regardless of who caused the accident. With a liability cover, you are covered against body or property damage. Take a look at your policy and the driver at fault before filing a claim.
Related: The Dos and Don’ts after a Car Accident
Hire a skilled attorney
Do you fear that you will not get compensated for your damages in the accident? Frankly, many laws affect your insurance claim. In other words, you need to hire a skilled attorney to help you understand your situation and plot the next move. Your attorney will review all the damage and medical expenses incurred before making a claim. If you have evidence such as a car accident report from the police, photos that were taken at the scene of the accident or even witnesses that can testify, let your attorney know about it. For the settlement of the issue, your lawyer can take on other motorist’s insurance on your behalf.
You should be ready to cooperate
After you file a claim, the other insurance company will want to investigate the claim before compensation. You should cooperate and give the correct information because when they discover you are lying, this can jeopardize your compensation. Investigating an auto-accident takes time. You need to remain patient through the process to give time for investigation.
Conclusion
These are a few guidelines for filing a claim against another motorist’s insurance company. Remember to work with the right auto accident attorney when fighting for your compensation.
