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Car accidents are scary, chaotic, and painful. In the aftermath of a collision, your first thought is likely, “How badly am I hurt?” While it’s critical to seek medical treatment for your injury claim from a car accident, the property damage car insurance claim is also important.
Filing a claim with car insurance early can put you in a better position to maximize your settlement and ensure that there is little reason for the car accident insurance company to deny it. Sometimes, another party involved in the car accident could contest the claim's validity.
If you need help getting a fair settlement after your car insurance claim in Washington State, contact Lehmbecker Law's Seattle auto accident attorneys to explore your legal options.
A car accident insurance claim is a request for compensation from the driver to their insurance carrier to cover the cost of repairing the damage to their car and paying their medical bills after a collision.
Although the details of processing the claim vary a little between insurance companies, the essentials of how to file an insurance claim for a car accident are essentially the same.
When filing a car accident insurance claim, you should understand your rights. Here's what to expect from your insurance company:
Carefully following each of these steps to file a claim with the car insurance company will help you successfully complete the settlement process.
Your first step in filing a car insurance claim is to contact your insurance company. Collect any paperwork about the accident, including:
Grab your insurance policy, too, as it will have the instructions for how to file a car insurance claim.
Washington law requires a Motor Vehicle Collision Report for any accident with bodily injury or property damages in excess of $1,000.
If you call the police, the responding officer will make the report and file it; if not, filing the report is your responsibility. A police report is critical evidence, as it contains witness accounts and other significant details.
You can make a car insurance accident claim for injuries you sustained, any harm that came to a passenger, or damage sustained by your vehicle, even if there were no serious injuries. Depending on the type of claim you make and the terms of your insurance coverage, you could be entitled to payments for medical expenses, wage loss, vehicle repair, and other compensation.
Additionally, the car crash claim may be opened with your own insurance company (first-party claim) or against another person’s insurance company (third-party claim). If someone else struck your vehicle with theirs, you should still consider opening a claim with your insurance company, which owes you several duties that the other driver’s insurance company does not. You can still pursue damages from the other driver’s insurance. The type of insurance and the amount of coverage the other driver has, however, could affect the payment of your claim.
After you file a claim, your insurance carrier assigns an insurance adjuster to process it. Their job is to investigate the claim and determine whether:
When the adjustor contacts you, simply state the facts and avoid long narratives or any “explanation”.
All communications with the insurance adjuster will be used as part of the claims evaluation process, including determining who is at fault.
If you are filing a claim with another driver’s insurance company and don’t know how to file an auto insurance claim against someone, our Seattle car accident lawyers can guide you through the claims process.
Your insurance company may have a list of preferred auto repair shops, but you are not required to use a particular mechanic. However, there are benefits to going to your insurance-authorized body shop. The insurance company pays them directly. And if there is damage beyond the initial estimate, the additional repairs will usually be approved more quickly.
One drawback to using an insurance-approved mechanic is that insurance companies usually only authorize repairs and replacements using original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. These parts are the same as those in your original vehicle but can vary in quality.
Once your car is repaired, your insurance company will either pay the mechanic directly or cut you a check (it’s then your responsibility to pay the mechanic). Next, you sign a release agreeing not to pursue further claims from the accident.
The process is usually the same for how to file an insurance claim if someone hits your car, except that you will be dealing with the other driver’s insurance company and not your own.
You should contact the necessary insurance companies as soon as possible after a crash, whether it was a single-car accident or if multiple vehicles were involved. The sooner you get the ball rolling, the sooner things are resolved. How long to file a car insurance claim may vary, so make sure to check your policy carefully to determine the deadline. Most insurance companies require you to notify them within 10-30 days of the accident; you could invalidate your policy if you don't.
A dedicated insurance agent can help ensure your claim and all accompanying paperwork are filed on time and correctly. Most auto insurance companies have an online filing option, too.
Either way, you will need:
You may also need to indicate if the police were called and which officer responded.
Even after your car is repaired after an accident, it may still be worth less than before. This is called diminished value. To pursue a diminished value claim, you'll typically need to gather documentation such as repair records, vehicle history reports, and an independent appraisal demonstrating the loss in value.
You'll then submit this information to the at-fault driver's insurance company. Be prepared to negotiate, as these claims can be complex. If you're struggling to reach a fair settlement, consider consulting with a legal professional experienced in diminished value claims like Lehmbecker Law.
When you're involved in an accident with a vehicle owned by a self-insured business, the process can differ slightly. Self-insured businesses handle their own claims instead of using a traditional insurance company. This means you'll likely be dealing directly with their claims department or a third-party administrator.
It's crucial to gather all necessary documentation, including the police report, witness information, and medical records, and present a clear and concise claim. Be prepared for potential challenges, as self-insured businesses may have their own internal processes and procedures. If you encounter difficulties, seeking legal advice can be beneficial to ensure your rights are protected.
Lehmbecker Law firm offers several tips to help you file a car insurance claim, but don’t forget, if you aren’t getting the resolution you deserve, give us a call!
You may need transportation until your vehicle is fixed or you find a new car to buy, so don’t hesitate to find a rental car in the meantime. If there is an at-fault driver, you can contact their insurance for rental coverage. But if not, you may have coverage under your own auto policy. It’s not required, but some people purchase the coverage just in case. If you’ve already started the process with your own insurance, speak to your attorney about transferring it to the at-fault party’s insurer.
If you repair your car before the adjustor values the repair needs, you may not receive full compensation. Unless delaying a repair would cause more damage to the car, you should always wait for the adjuster to inspect the damage. If you must repair the car right away, take photos or videos of the damage.
Insurance companies typically try to settle a claim for as little as possible, as fast as possible, if they don’t deny a claim outright. If you’re concerned about how your insurance carrier or the other party is handling your claim, you can appeal their decision, seek a second opinion of your claim’s value, or hire a car accident lawyer.
Many common car accident injuries can lead to serious health complications left untreated. Others may be “hidden” injuries that don’t present specific symptoms immediately.
Prompt medical treatment after an accident reduces your chances of lifelong health complications, but many people may hesitate to see a doctor because they’re worried about how to pay for it.
Once you know the basics of how to file a car accident insurance claim and submit your claim, you should receive a claim or confirmation number. That can be used to check on the status of your claim. You may be contacted to answer more questions or provide further documentation, and the insurance company may send someone out to take a look at your vehicle and assess the level of damage done to it.
You may also be asked to submit pictures of the damage, medical records from the incident, a copy of the police report, and other pertinent information. The faster you provide information, the faster your claim can be processed in most cases. Again, before signing any documentation or giving a statement to another driver’s insurance, you should always consult with an attorney.
Even if you follow all the right steps to file an auto insurance claim, you may still end up with a less-than-satisfying result from the insurance company.
Common reasons an insurance carrier will deny your claim include:
Insurance companies may use your own words against you to deny your claim. When you speak with the insurance adjustor, you may have unwittingly provided some “reasonable doubt” reason for them to believe you shared most of the responsibility for the accident.
When talking to the insurance company, stick to the facts, and when in doubt, refer all communications to your Seattle car accident lawyer.
If your claim was denied, you may request the specific reason in writing. Sometimes, you may have made an error because you did not know how to file an insurance claim on car accidents; other times, there may be inaccurate information that led to the denial.
If you still don’t have a satisfactory resolution, you may benefit from seeking legal advice.
Sometimes, despite the clear-cut evidence that the other driver was at fault, an insurance company may deny your claim. Other times, the issues may be murkier, and both insurance companies contest the liability of the drivers involved.
If you aren’t getting the settlement you deserve, Lehmbecker Law's professional Washington State car accident lawyers can help you recoup your losses and hold the at-fault driver accountable. Connect with us for a free consultation.
Let our attorneys guide you through the process for maximum compensation.
You should report the accident to your own insurance company, and the other person should do the same with theirs. If you weren't at fault, you may be able to file a claim with the other driver's insurance later. If the other driver is uninsured, you might be covered under your own uninsured motorist coverage if you have it.
Insurance typically covers car seats damaged in accidents — just tell your insurer the model of your car seat and they'll usually pay for a similar replacement. Other personal items (like phones, laptops, jewelry, and glasses) can also be covered if you can prove they were damaged in the accident.
While you're free to switch companies anytime, changing insurers after an accident probably won't help you avoid higher rates. Insurance companies share information about claims and accidents, so your history will follow you. Plus, you might lose existing discounts like multi-car or loyalty benefits. If you have an open claim, you must continue working with your current insurer until it's resolved.