Every year, thousands of Texans are involved in car accidents. From fender benders to collisions involving commercial vehicles, injured parties navigate the insurance process after an accident.
While it is not wise to accept a settlement offer from any insurance company without consulting an attorney, filing a claim with insurance is an important first step in recovering from your loss.
The length of the timeline from initiation of a claim to final settlement depends on various factors that are highly fact-specific. Some cases are handled in weeks, while others take months to resolve.
If you wish to file a car accident claim, contact Shaw Cowart LLP. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys is ready to fight for you. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.
How Do I File a Claim?
The first thing most people do after an accident is to file an insurance claim. Filing a claim is consistent across insurance companies and involves the following steps:
First, call your insurance provider as soon as possible after the accident.
Second, formally file your insurance claim. In most cases, this can be done digitally through your insurance company’s smartphone app. Once you file you will be able to receive updates on the status of your claim. It is important to note that you should not provide any statements to your insurance company until you have consulted with an attorney, for the best chance at getting full and fair compensation.
Third, upload relevant documents – like police reports and images from the accident scene – to provide proof of your claim.
Fourth, make note of any important deadlines, for example, a deadline for filing claims, or submitting bills.
Lastly, preserve all documents related to your case. From medical bills to car repair estimates, these documents are important to establish the extent of your loss.
How Insurance Claims Work
After you file your claim, an insurance agent will investigate the accident, determine fault, and offer a settlement. Although each insurance company has its own process, various steps are uniform across cases, including the following:
- Claim filed with insurance
- Taking testimony from parties involved in the accident and witnesses
- Gathering other evidence, like pictures from the scene of the accident, pictures of damage to vehicles, estimates of repairs, and medical bills establishing the type and cost of injuries
- Offer of settlement
Why Hire an Attorney?
You may know a friend or loved one who handled their insurance claim without an attorney. Although you can handle your claim alone, it is not advisable.
Insurance agents work for companies, not you. This means they investigate all claims with the end goal of preserving the corporate bottom line. The end result is a settlement offer that does not reflect full and fair compensation for your loss.
By hiring an experienced attorney you will have a trusted advocate who will fight for your right to receive the compensation you deserve for your damages.
Because each case is unique, a lawyer is able to thoroughly investigate to understand the facts of your case. Hiring an attorney from the time you file your initial claim means your counsel will be able to gather and assess relevant evidence, including:
- Evaluating police reports
- Interviewing witnesses
- Reviewing dash cam footage
- Assessing vehicle damage
- Understanding the injuries you sustained
Evaluating this evidence will help your attorney advocate for a settlement that adequately compensates you for the loss you experienced.
Contact Shaw Cowart LLP
If you were recently injured in a car accident and need guidance on how to handle insurance claims, contact Shaw Cowart LLP today for a free consultation.