Things That Slow Down The Auto Accident Claims Process
by Joan Bradley
You're probably eager to get the ball rolling on getting reimbursed for losses resulting from an accident. But the process can be quite lengthy. Here are some of the bottlenecks that may slow down the insurance claims process.
Not Knowing What to Do
When you or the other driver isn't sure who will take care of what, the miscommunication can slow down the investigation. Even if you have agreed that the other driver will follow an insurance claim, follow up if you don't hear back within the first 48 hours. Be sure your own insurance company is informed of the accident if your policy requires you to do so. It may even be advisable to use your own insurance at first if you have collision insurance to cover the repairs and car rental while your car is in the shop.
Having an Unresponsive Witness
Witnesses may be slow to play their part as well. Unfortunately, a witness may not be as invested in the accident as you and willing to spend their time talking to an insurance company. But ask your lawyer for advice on whether you should send a personal message to a witness to get them to provide their statement.
Providing Inaccurate Information
If you have given wrong information to the other driver or to the insurance company, that might slow down your payment as well. The insurer will want to check on your insurance policy's terms as they investigate the accident claim, so if they can't locate your policy or verify your personal information, it will slow things down.
Not Having a Good Lawyer
One final thing to think about is how having a car accident attorney speeds up your claim. They will do some of the work for you in opening claims with your insurance company and the other driver's. Another thing they may do is hire a private investigator to facilitate getting a response from a witness about their accident witness statement. Your lawyer also calls the insurance company to put a little pressure on them to accept liability - and that's just the first step. After the other party accepts liability, a lawyer helps you get more money for your claim by writing a demand letter that is comprehensive in itemizing your personal losses from the accident. Their fee often takes care of itself when you consider that you'll often get an increased settlement when working with a lawyer.
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About Me
You walk into your favorite grocery store and right away, you slip and fall only to sprain your ankle. You can't perform your job because it requires standing on your feet all day, which means that you can't make any money to support your family while your ankle heals. There was no warning that the floors were wet after being cleaned in the store – so what do you do? It's probably a good idea to think about filing a personal injury lawsuit. Of course, anyone with experience with a personal injury case will tell you just how important it is to work with an attorney throughout the process. I'd like to share insight I've learned through three personal injury cases that I myself have had to go through in the past. I think the information on this website can help people like you, who need some personal injury guidance.