If you are involved in a accident, you should file an insurance claim with the responsible insurance company immediately. Filing the claim will allow you to get compensation for the pain, suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages due to the accident.
Things that you should know about accident insurance claims
When filing your accident insurance claim, you must understand the different types of insurance claims. Basically, insurance claims are either first party claims or third party claims. First party claim is when you are filing a claim with your insurance while third party insurance claim is when you are filing your claims with an insurance provider of the other party. Whenever you are involved in an accident, you should report the incident to the appropriate insurance provider within 24 hours. If you caused the accident, you should report to your insurance company. If another party caused the accident, you should contact the insurance provider of the at-fault party.
Once you report to the insurance company, the company will open its own investigation into your claim. You may be asked to provide the names of witnesses, photos of the accident scene, or a more detailed description of what happened. If the accident caused injuries, the insurance firm may subject the victims to an independent medical examination by the insurance preferred choice. The insurance firm will then calculate your accident insurance claim and issue a settlement check. If the insurance company denies your claim or if you feel the settlement is not adequate, you can file an appeal with the insurance company.
What should you do if your insurance claim is denied?
There are several reasons why your insurance claim can be denied. The company can deny your claim if the type of the accident you were involved in is not be covered by the insurance plan or if you waited too long before making a claim. However, irrespective of the reasons, the insurance provider will notify you about the denial of your claim. If you disprove their denial, you should launch an appeal. In most occasions, it is wise to hire an insurance lawyer before making an appeal. If an attorney is involved in the appeal process, the insurance company will most likely take your appeal very serious. The attorney will draft a demand letter containing all the details including your compensation, your story and why the other party was at fault.
Conclusion
Whenever you are involved in an accident, you should hire an insurance attorney to help you file your accident insurance claim. With an attorney, the insurance company will give your case more attention and thus, offer a quick settlement. An attorney will also ensure that the settlement insurance company gives is adequate to settle the damages, lost wages and suffering that you may have suffered following the accident.