Car accidents can be difficult experiences for all the parties involved. These situations can become more complex when those involved fail to agree on who is on the wrong and the events that led to the accident. Accident claims in St. Petersburg, FL are designed to solve the issues that come up after an auto accident. They make it easy for the insured parties to present their complaints to their respective insurance agents. They also allow the wronged party to file claims against the other party’s insurance provider, seeking compensations for damages and losses.
A car accident claim is filed when you are involved in an accident and is seeking compensation for damages caused to your car and personal well being. The claim will take care of any physical damages sustained during the accident as well as injuries to people inside the car or even other road users.
Any car accident claim should be filed immediately. It is important to get in touch with your insurance agent to present your statement and the other party’s insurance information once your car has been removed from the road after an accident. The faster you begin the filing process the better because your memory of the accident is still fresh in your mind. Most people file their claims immediately after the accident. It is highly recommended to contact a personal injury lawyer that handles car accidents claims in St. Petersburg, FL to ensure you do not let the insurance company take advantage of your situation.
Many insurance service providers allow clients whose vehicles suffer damages in accidents to repair their vehicles only at select auto repair shops. Once your car is at the auto shop, a representative from your insurance firm will ask you a few questions in order to identify damages that you believe your car received from the accident, and note any damages that existed before the accident. You are likely to encounter the same kind of questioning at the hospital when seeking medical attention.
In most cases, both parties involved in a car accident file claims against each other. However, it is important to note that filling an accident claim does not essentially mean that your claim will be fully settled. Once both parties have given their statements to their respective insurance companies, the agents will evaluate their accounts of the accident and the damage to their cars before assigning fault to one party, whose claim will be turned down by the other party’s insurance company. You may still be denied compensation for all your claims even if the accident is ruled in your favor. Experts will investigate the vehicular damage and the facts of the accident to establish injuries and damage they believe were genuinely caused by the accident.
There are various things you can do to help your case when filling a car accident claim. Reach out to anyone who may have seen the accident occur and get their account of what happened. Do not forget to note down the names and telephone numbers of anyone who corroborates your account of the accident. Once everyone is on the safe side of the road, call highway patrol, or the police and request that the officer takes an accident report. A lot of he-said-she-said that arise in most accidents can be eliminated by a police report.
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It is important to know that a police report can be disputed by the other party in court. To prevent the other party from interfering with his car prior to your insurance examination, take pictures showing damages to both vehicles. Avoid talking to the other party, especially if they seem agitated, violent, or mentally unstable. Observe any strange behavior that might suggest he is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Lastly, do not accept blame at the accident site.
Apart from being an inconvenient event, a car accident can be scary. However, you are only required to file a car insurance claim where there are no injuries involved. Although filling a car accident claim and getting your compensation can take long, you will eventually be compensated for your car’s repairs. It is imperative to get the insurance information of the other party immediately after the accident, especially if the accident was his/her fault. It will also help you avoid paying a deductible.
To effectively provide an accurate account of how the accident happened, take photos of the accident scene and the damaged vehicles. Remember to also call your claims representative as soon as possible. The representatives will help you fill out the claims form, get both versions of the story, take pictures, and interview eye witnesses if possible.
Being involved in a car accident is a traumatizing experience.
Following necessary procedures after the accident will help you get a decent settlement.
Do not agree to settle your claim too early.
Don’t get tempted into accepting a claim within the first month after the accident.
Take time to examine the damage to your vehicle, injuries to your body and how they will affect your future earnings.
Don’t rush to finish the claim settlement process. This only makes you more susceptible to accepting a poor settlement.