• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Lehmbecker Law Firm

Bellevue Personal Injury Lawyers

  • Types of cases we take
    • Vehicle Accidents
    • Work Injuries | Construction Site Accidents
    • Injury Cases
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Wrongful Death
    • Nursing Home Abuse
  • Who we are
    • Attorneys
    • Personal Injury Paralegals
    • Workers’ Comp Legal Team
    • Office Staff
  • Results & FAQs
  • Blog
  • Locations
  • Client reviews
  • Áreas de Práctica
  • Privacy Policy
  Fax: (425) 278-5908   | FREE CONSULTATION: (888) 889-6895  

How to Submit a Claim After a Car Accident

How to Submit a Claim After a Car AccidentCar accidents can be frightening, and they can do serious damage to vehicles and the people in them. While being treated for injuries is very important after an accident, you also don’t want to waste any time in opening a claim.

By opening your claim early, you have greater access to available evidence (including your own memory) and the sooner your insurance company can start investigating the accident to determine whether your claim will be paid. If more information is needed or if your claim is denied, there may be additional steps you need to take so the earlier you open your claim, the better your chance at having it resolved in your favor.

Get All of Your Documentation Together

Before you officially make the claim, organize your available documentation. That includes any medical records related to the accident, any quotes you have received to fix the damage to your vehicle, and the police report you had taken at the time of the accident. If you do not yet have these when you want to open your claim, then provide them to your insurance company as soon as you can after receiving them.

Even for smaller car accidents, you should always attempt to have a police report made. Insurance companies often look to police reports as an initial source of evidence as to what happened in a crash. The more evidence and witness statements you can provide your insurance company in your favor, the more likely that you will be able to effectively resolve your claim.

What Kind of Claim Are You Making?

You can make a car insurance accident claim for injuries you sustained, 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 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 will still be able to pursue damages from the other driver’s insurance. The type of insurance and the amount of coverage the other driver has, however, could affect payment of your claim.

How to Submit Your Claim

There can be hidden injuries that don’t show up for a while after a car accident, and it’s important to be examined by a doctor to look for any signs of these or risk factors for them. But don’t wait for too long to submit your claim. There is generally a time period or a statute of limitations, and if you wait beyond that before filing you may not be entitled to submit a claim at all.

When you submit your claim, follow the instructions provided by your insurance company. Most companies have claim submission as one of their menu options when you call them, so your information can go to the correct department right away. Before signing any documentation or giving a statement to another driver’s insurance, however, you should always consult with an attorney.

What Happens After Your Claim is Submitted?

Once a claim is submitted, 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 the majority of cases. Again, before signing any documentation or giving a statement to another driver’s insurance, you should always consult with an attorney.

What Should You Do if Your Claim is Denied?

In some cases, a claim may be denied. The insurance company could decide that their driver was not at fault, or they could argue that you didn’t provide them with enough information to make a determination. You can decrease the chance of getting an unfavorable decision by an insurance company by getting a police report to document what happened and getting prompt medical attention if you believe you sustained any injuries.

Sometimes insurance companies will deny a claim regardless of the information you provide. In cases like that, it may be necessary for you to retain the services of an attorney to work with (or against) the insurance company on your behalf.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Lehmbecker Law Firm today to discuss your options and receive your free consultation. You need a legal advocate on your side, and we may be able to help you obtain fair compensation for your injuries. You should not have to deal with your injuries, a damaged car, and a troublesome insurance company on your own, and we want to help you through the process of getting the treatment you need and the recovery you deserve after a crash.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Free Consultation:

Submit your request for a FREE case evaluation:
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Settlements:

$460,000

Obtained for our client after being hit by driver making an illegal U-turn.

$5.7 Million

obtained for our client after being hit by a car while taking a walk in Bellevue, WA.

$2,000,000

for our client who suffered permanent cardiovascular impairment after his surgeon performed an unnecessary procedure during a heart surgery.

$2,000,000

for a young woman who suffered multiple orthopedic injuries after being struck in a crosswalk by a taxicab.

$2,000,000

for an elderly woman who suffered a shoulder injury after being struck in a crosswalk by a delivery van.

More Testimonials

Client Reviews:

“Please allow me to take this moment of your time to say thank you to all the members in your firm who worked on my case. I was so proud of the way my attorney handled herself and stood by myside during the court proceedings. It has been an honor and a privilege for me having all your legal help and advice for the past two years. It’s hard to say goodbye. Again, thank you.”

Kim Kent, WA

“Thanks again for all your help! You made a difficult situation much easier on us. We really appreciate everything you’ve done.”

Alana

“Lehmbecker Law has been outstanding in helping me deal with my Workers’ Comp claim. Before I hired them, it was very stressful trying to deal with the insurance companies and the medical bills. As soon as Lehmbecker Law took my case, my stress levels dropped and I was able to concentrate on getting better. I would highly recommend them to anyone who needs help with their workers’ comp claim.”

N.H. Woodinville, WA

“After a full year of fighting, Lehmbecker Law got me a full year of back wage loss. I couldn’t be happier or more relieved. This will make such a difference in my life. Now we are working on my vocational plan. Lehmbecker Law has been there for me and I will recommend them to anyone who needs help fighting L&I.”

A. Mayberry Woodinville, WA

“After my mother and I were involved in a car accident at the Westfield Shopping Mall at Southcenter I was in a lot of pain. Having your law firm oversee my medical treatment and make sure my bills got paid took away a lot of my stress. And, the settlement I received was even more than I expected. I recommend that anyone involved in a car accident call you and get representation. I truly believe I received a bigger settlement with you fighting for me than I would have gotten on my own.”

M. Bonifacio Federal Way, WA

“I am very happy with the results I received from settling two different cases I had with Mr. Lehmbecker and his law firm.

Mr. Lehmbecker is a very caring and knowledgeable attorney and I felt confident throughout both my cases that he would give me excellent results. I highly recommend Mr. Lehmbecker to anyone who has a personal injury, worker’s compensation or medical malpractice case.”

Y. Knotts Redmond, WA

“I am a lawyer in this community and have had the pleasure of working side by side with two lawyers from this firm, as well as some of the staff members. I am always glad to see other lawyers in the community doing a good job in representing their clients, and the lawyers with Larry Lehmbecker’s office will do that.”

“I have known Larry Lehmbecker for 15 years. I have conferred with Larry over the years regarding personal injury and workers’ compensation issues because I respect his knowledge and experience. I have always found his problem solving and case strategy skills to be thoughtful, practical, and helpful. I consider Larry to be one of top attorneys in his field.”

Attorney Christine Foster

“I had never been in a motor vehicle accident before, and I didn’t know who to turn to for help. After doing research on law firms in the area, I learned about Lehmbecker Law. My case was not an easy one, and there was a lot of emotion along the way. The team at Lehmbecker Law was terrific at navigating the difficulties of my case, from beginning to end. Throughout the process they were responsive, professional, and put my mind at ease during a difficult time. I strongly recommend that anybody who has been in a serious accident reach out to Lehmbecker Law.”

Katrina Issaquah

“Recently, I needed legal services to help me with my injury claim resulting from a drunk driver. The team at Lehmbecker Law was very helpful in the resolution of my claim. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have known how to address the many issues in my case. I would strongly recommend Lehmbecker Law for people who are injured and need help.”

Mozeyl Seattle

“This is an outstanding firm. I have used them twice now, and I would recommend them strongly to anybody who needs legal advice. I had a great experience with both of my cases. They are a very caring firm that truly has their clients’ best interests at heart.”

Darcelle Snohomish

“This law firm is Great. They kept me informed on all that was going on, they cared, were compassionate, kept on top of it like you were their only client. They are not afraid to take on the big companies to help out the little guy. Always straight shooters with me never had to ask twice and when I did have a question if the person I talked to didn’t know the answer they would find out what it was and always called you back. I never had a problem getting to talk to someone in the office, they never put me off with I will have them call you back unless they were not in the office, they always called back in a timely manner and with the questions I wanted answered. Great people to work with.I would recommend this law firm without hesitation to anyone that needed a great lawyer. I have had other lawyers in the past for different reasons and most of the time it was hard to get to speak to someone in the office not here. If you want a great law team on your side choose Larry Lehmbecker.”

Brenda

<< Prev
Next >>

Locations:

Washington Federal Building
400 108th Ave NE, Ste. 500 Bellevue, WA 98004

Uptown Square
1066 S. 320th St.
Building K, Suite F
Federal Way, WA 98003

Sign Up For Newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Footer

Just a few of our past clients…

Lehmbecker Law

Bellevue Car Accident Lawyer

400 - 108th Ave. NE, Suite 500 Bellevue, WA 98004

(425) 455-3186 (888) 889-6895