Life can get very complicated in the aftermath of a
car accident. Questions about injuries, car repairs, talking to the police, and filing an insurance
claim not to mention the scare-induced adrenaline rush bombard your senses and can leave you
incapable of making a clear decision. That's why it pays to know ahead of time how to deal with insurers
after a car crash.
Just the facts, ma'am
The first thing to do at the crash site is to
determine the extent of driver and passenger injuries. If the accident is a fender bender, emergency
medical care might not be necessary. However, when in doubt, call an ambulance.
If your first phone call was to emergency care
providers, your second call should be to the police. The police will advise you whether it's required to
move the crashed vehicles from moving traffic, and an investigating officer will take statements of the
drivers and passengers involved.
Even if the facts of the accident are
embarrassing or detrimental to you, tell the truth. If you alter your story down the road or you don't
disclose pertinent facts, the insurance companies involved will find out. That could come back to haunt
you; the insurer can deny coverage or shift more fault to you.
It's not your place to accuse another party of
being at fault, so limit the statement to the facts. By the same token, you should avoid saying
"I'm sorry" because that can be interpreted as an admission of fault. The
insurance companies and the investigating police officer will determine who is to blame.
Make sure to exchange insurance information with
the other drivers involved. If another driver gives you an insurance ID card, check its date to make
sure coverage is in force. In addition, get names and phone numbers of witnesses. Although it's not your
job to investigate the accident, getting witness contact information can make the insurer's and
investigating officer's jobs easier.
You also should get the investigating officer's
contact information for future reference. The officer's report is not available at the accident
scene.
Who to call?
Your auto insurance policy requires you to inform
your insurer when you've been involved in an accident. As soon as you are able, you must call your
insurer and file an accident report. You also should notify the other driver's insurer of the accident.
The insurance companies involved will then begin an investigation of the accident in order to determine
who's at fault.
A good way to notify your insurer is by calling
your agent, especially if the accident is minor. Agents often have the authority to settle minor
property-damage claims (below $5,000) by issuing a check to you. However, if the accident involves
injuries and major property damage, and you are insured by Allstate, Nationwide, or State Farm
companies that employ "exclusive" agents don't expect your agent to lobby the claims
adjuster on your behalf. Exclusive agents sell policies for one insurer only, and are forbidden from
interfering in the claims process.
Independent agents are a different story. They
often are able to "go to bat" for you with the insurance company claims adjuster because
insurers more and more are looking to independent agents to sell their products, and the insurers are
not interested in souring a relationship with an independent agent over one claim.
It's imperative you ask
the insurance company adjuster for a copy of the complete claim file Post-it notes and
all because, increasingly, insurers are destroying documents in an effort to move to a
"paperless office." Insurers make mistakes from time to time, and it's possible that you could
be surcharged for an accident even though it wasn't your fault. If you don't have a copy of the claim
file, it's unlikely your insurer will have the documents by the time you catch the surcharge
sometimes weeks or months after the accident.
Insurers aren't keen on giving out copies of
claim files. If the insurer doesn't grant you a copy, file a complaint with your state's department of
insurance and contact a lawyer. The lawyer likely will have to subpoena the insurer to produce a copy of
the claim file before the insurer gives it to you.
Medical and car care
You have every right to seek what you deem as
appropriate medical care. An auto insurer cannot direct you to a certain medical care provider unless
you've signed for a preferred provider organization discount. Keep in mind, however, that embellishing
your medical bills or seeking unnecessary treatment raises red flags for insurers: Be prepared for a
letter from the insurer saying it won't pay all of the medical expenses if you've sought extensive
treatment for a minor injury.
In addition, don't give up your right to choose
an auto-repair facility. Finding a repair shop that performs quality work independent of insurers can
save you the hassle of haggling over repairs or procedures not performed at insurance company
direct-repair shops (DRP). While many DRPs no doubt perform quality repairs, they sign agreements with
insurers to give discounts on parts, labor, and procedures in exchange for a steady stream of crashed
cars. In short, the DRP might not be acting in your best interest. (For more on the pros and cons of
DRPs, see Inside the direct car-repair process.)
Do you need an attorney?
Hiring a lawyer is not
required after you've crashed into someone, but there are a couple of scenarios in which
seeking legal counsel is a good idea. If you've been seriously injured in the accident, you'll probably
want a lawyer to help keep the lines of communication open between you and the insurance company.
Proving to another driver's insurer that its
policyholder caused the accident might require the services of an attorney, as well. In order to prove
the other driver is at fault, you have to show what the rules of the road are in the accident scenario,
that the other driver disobeyed the rules of the road, that the driver's disobedience caused the
accident, and the accident caused harm to you or damage to your car. That might seem simple, but it
requires substantial time, research, and knowledge of the law.
If you live in a no-fault state and you've been
injured in an accident, you will make your claim under your own auto insurance policy for reimbursement
of medical expenses and lost wages. However, in most no-fault states, you still can make a claim for
damages to your car under the at-fault party's insurance.
One other situation that should send you to a
lawyer's office is when you've not been able to collect any insurance benefits within 30 days of the
accident. That's a signal of big trouble: Either the insurer is getting ready to litigate against you or
you have not effectively communicated with the insurer. In both cases, an attorney is helpful. (See When to hire a personal injury attorney for
more information.)
Three-point plan
The critical points to remember to ensure a smooth
insurance claim after an accident are:
-
Be honest with your insurer and the other
insurers involved, even if the facts of the accident seem to weigh against you
-
Know where you are going for medical
treatment and car repairs
-
Obtain as many documents as possible to avoid
surcharges or problems getting insurance in the future.
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