Inspection And Repair Process
Once you report your claim, if eligible, make an appointment for a damage inspection.
- The inspection typically takes around 30 minutes.
- If your car isn’t safe to drive, we’ll send a GEICO adjuster to look at your car.
- You don’t have to meet with our adjuster unless you want to.
After the inspection, you can have your vehicle repaired anywhere you wish.
Consider an Auto Repair Xpress® location for one-stop inspection, repair, and rental.
- The shop will begin the repair process as soon as you drop off your vehicle.
- You can go home in a rental vehicle if you have rental reimbursement coverage.
- You’ll get regular updates on your car’s repair progress
Report a new claim or track your claim today to see if you can schedule an inspection appointment online.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Even if you wont be filing a claim, you need to let your insurance company know about the accident. All auto insurance companies require that any accident must be reported by policyholders who are involved in even the most minor fender benders when theres another party involved. Request forms from your agent, or find them online, on the insurer’s website.
Should I Contact My Insurance Company
After things have settled, you should contact your insurance company and report the accident to them as soon as possible. It is best to do so within 7 days, or as soon as possible after that. If you wait too long the insurance company might not have to honour your claim. It is also helpful to call them for advice on what to do during and after the scene of the accident.
Here is a list of steps in the process you should expect:
- A claims adjuster will be assigned to your case to determine how much of the accident is covered by your policy and to help guide you through the process
- You will be asked to fill out some forms for your claim, such as a Proof of Loss form, that act as sworn statements of what happened
- You will be asked to provide some basic information about what happened, who and what cars were involved, what the insurance policy information is for everyone involved, and so on
- The insurance company will investigate and speak with the companies of the other people involved to determine who was at fault and for how much .
If you have any questions or want advice, your claims representative will help.
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What To Do After A Car Accident
When you get into a car accident, there are certain steps you may want to take in order to help make sure everyone is safe, to follow the law and to get the insurance claim process started.
According to the Insurance Information Institute , the following steps may help guide you through important decisions you need to make if you’ve been in a car accident, whether you were at fault for the accident or not.
How Much Is Your Car Accident Case Worth
Settlements for car accidents can be in the thousands or millions of dollars. In Connecticut, the minimum payout is $25,000 per person for car accident-induced injuries. However, there is never a situation precisely like another the specifics of the accident, the kind of injuries sustained, and how they affect the victims life are all different.
The concept of an average settlement isnt especially helpful for these and other reasons. Depending on a variety of variables, your case can be valued much more or significantly less. As a result, automated tools like online settlement calculators are not only inaccurate but also could put claimants in peril if they rely on them to submit a claim.
Accurate damage assessment takes into consideration the human condition. Unfortunately, for accident victims, especially as they heal from major injuries, it may also become highly confusing and frequently overwhelming. Because of this, it is even more crucial to hire a personal injury attorney with expertise.
You may be sure you are not overlooking any information that could help you obtain the just compensation you are entitled to by working with an expert attorney. A lawyer can also prevent you from overvaluing your claim and running the danger of needless delays or rejections. Personal injury attorneys can help you optimize your financial recovery by finding potential insurance coverage sources and calculating damages you might not even be aware of.
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Alberta Car Accident Stats
Alberta traffic collisions are common. There are about 385 collisions in the province each day. These are just the reported collisions. In 2015 alone, there were :
- 140,705 collisions
Where and how do car accidents in Alberta happen?
- 84.1% occur in urban areas 15.9% in rural areas
- 26.4% are intersection related
- 3.4% of accidents involve a driver who has been drinking 0.3% impaired by drugs
- 25.7% of drivers in fatal collisions were reported as travelling at an unsafe speed
- Saturday recorded the most fatal collisions at 53 and Friday recorded the most injury collisions at 2,288
Talk To The Department Of Insurance
We are the state agency that regulates the insurance industry. We also work to protect the rights of insurance consumers.
Contact the California Department of Insurance :
- If you feel that an insurance agent, broker, or company has treated you unfairly.
- If you have questions or concerns about health insurance.
- If you want to order CDI brochures.
- If you want to file a request for assistance against your agent, broker, or insurance company.
- If you are having difficulty opening a claim with your insurance company.
- To check the license of an agent, broker, or insurance company.
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Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
In a serious car accident, a witness or bystander may call 911 for emergency medical help. If youve been in a car accident while pregnant, it’s especially important to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible. If you dont feel hurt at the scene, make sure to see your doctor and let her know that youve been in a car accident and report any type of injury or symptom , even if it seems minor.
What If I Have A Complaint
If you do not agree with the determination of fault, first speak to your claims adjuster in case any evidence was missed. If you are still unsatisfied you can ask to speak with the companys Complaint Officer. They will review the case to see if anything was overlooked or mishandled, but you will need to have further evidence to present that they did not consider or a complaint that the case was not handled properly.
If you have any other complaints about how your claim is being handled, you should follow those same steps: first speak with your claim adjuster and then contact the Complaint Officer. If you have further complaints that you feel they did not properly address, you still have some options:
- Contact the insurance companys CEO directly
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Understanding Your Legal Options
You have many options available to you if youve been involved in a secondary car accident. These options will depend on the facts of your case and the amount and type of damages youve suffered, as well as the jurisdiction in which the accident occurred.
Some of the options available to you may include filing a personal injury lawsuit or joining another persons lawsuit or insurance claim. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options and determine the best course of action for your case.
When youre ready to take the next step, reach out to us. Our team is here to help you get the compensation you deserve. We handle all types of personal injury cases and will work hard to get you the best possible outcome for your case. for a free consultation.
Can I Join Another Persons Lawsuit
If youve been involved in a secondary car accident, you may be able to join another persons lawsuit. This is known as piggybacking. In order to piggyback on another persons lawsuit, you must have suffered damages as a result of the accident. These damages can be either physical or financial.
Piggybacking allows victims of secondary car accidents to seek compensation from the liable parties without having to file their own lawsuits. This can be beneficial because it can save time and money. It can also increase the chances of success because there will likely be more evidence to support the claim.
If youre considering piggybacking on another persons lawsuit, its important to consult with an experienced car accident lawyer. A lawyer can help you understand the pros and cons of piggybacking and determine if its the right option for you.
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File An Insurance Claim
After being involved in a car crash, you should contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. Some insurance companies have accident forgiveness for safe drivers who have a clean record. If the accident wasnât your fault, let your insurance provider know so they can be prepared if the at-fault driver tries to file a claim.â
You need to cooperate with your insurer. They will have lots of questions and you need to answer them as truthfully and as best as you can.
Show Sources
âDefensive Driving: â13 Things You Should Do if Youâre in a Car Accident.â
âIllinois Legal Aid Online: âWhat to do if youâre in a car accident.â
âInsurance Information Institute: âWhat to do at the scene of an accident.â
âmn Commerce Department: âAfter an Accident.â
âOregon State Bar: âWhat To Do In Case of an Automobile Accident.â
âTeensHealth from Nemours: âWhat to Do After a Car Crash.â
âWashington State Office of the Attorney General: âCar Accident Knowledge.â
Collecting Details After A Car Accident
If possible, you should collect names, addresses and contact details from any drivers, passengers and witnesses.
Ask the other drivers involved for their car insurance details and try to establish whether they are the registered keeper of their vehicle. If they arent, find out who is and make a note of their name and address.
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Should You Talk To The Other Insurance Company
In general it is best not to speak to the other insurance company other than to give them the contact information for your insurance company or attorney.
Instead, speak to your own insurance company and let them handle the case. If you hire an attorney, they can handle negotiations with the other insurance company.
What To Do If You Get In A Car Accident
Getting in a car accident is everyones worst fear while out on the road. Unfortunately, its a situation that does occur and its always good to know what you should do if it does happen to you.
Always call the police if:
- Someone is hurt
- You think another driving might be guilty of a Criminal Code offence
- There is significant property damage
Certain provinces might also have additional circumstances where the police need to be called so youll want to check with your provincial authorities about this.
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Take Photos Of The Accident And Scene
Collecting relevant evidence is paramount to pursuing your car accident personal injury case. Photos, videos, and police reports are all crucial pieces of evidence your attorney can use to strengthen your case.
They provide a clear visual of the damage, results, and potential causes of a car accident and the injuries you sustained. They can also help determine the fault or the causes of an accident
From a legal perspective, they can help our attorneys demonstrate the nature and severity of the wreck to insurance agencies, the defense, jury, etc.
Be sure to get pictures of the following, for all vehicles that sustained damage in the accident:
Be sure to get photos from multiple angles, as safely as you can.
You should expect opposing insurance agencies to look for any opportunity they can get to push back on or minimize your case. Photos depicting all the vehicles involved in the crash will provide your personal injury attorneys with fundamental evidence to help fortify your case.
How Auto Insurance Fraud Happens
A tow truck driver may be paid a referral fee by a vehicle repair or body shop to have damaged vehicles towed there. These types of tow truck drivers are known in the industry as âchasers.â A tow truck driver may be breaking a municipal bylaw by recommending a repair shop without being asked. To recover these referral fees, tow truck drivers and vehicle repair or body shops may âpadâ their bills. In the end, you and other policyholders end up paying.
Typically, you donât care, your insurance is footing the bill. But, by increasing the cost of the repair bill, insurers eventually respond by increasing their insurance rates for all, including your own. Regardless of how happy you are with your providerâs customer service, if your car insurance rate goes up, you might end up switching insurance providers.
Worst case scenario â you lose your car.
Also, be forewarned, if your insurance provider doesnât âapproveâ of the repair shop, they may require you to get it towed to a mechanic they know and trust. You could be responsible for paying for the first towing service, storage to leave your car there, and other administrative fees â thatâs money out of your pocket. If you refuse to pay them, know there is a âRepair and Storage Liens Actâ permitting the mechanic to sell your vehicle to cover their costs.
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Do Not Settle Privately With The Other Driver
If you are at fault and it is a minor fender bender with no injuries, it may be tempting to offer to settle privately between yourself and the other driver. Another version of this scenario is if the other driver seems like a nice person and pleads with you to settle privately. They may say they are uninjured and agree to a private settlement. But if they wake up the following day with a crick in their neck, they may report it to the rideshare company. The rideshare company will in turn come to you to verify what happened, putting you in a bad spot.
Brandon J Broderick Attorney At Law Can Help
Are you considering talking to an attorney about a car accident while pregnant? At Brandon J Broderick, Attorney at Law, we approach every case with compassion and empathy. Contact us today for a free consultation. With our proven track record of success, we can get you the justice you deserve.
Brandon J. BroMon, 08/02/2021 – 18:51
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Notify Emergency Services If Anyoneis Hurt
You must help anyonewhose life is in danger. You must provide physical assistance if you can, or notifyemergency services.
You must alsocontact the police, even if the injuries appear minor. They will write up an accidentreport, which will be forwarded to the Société de lassurance automobile duQuébec .
Specific rules apply if you hurt or kill an animal.
Report Your Accident And Make A Claim
Before you contact us following an accident, make sure you’ve got all the important details ready:
- Your policy number
- Registration number of the cars involved
- Driver’s name, address and phone number of each car involved
- Each driver’s insurance details if you have them
Once the incident report has been taken by your Accident Assist claims advisor, they’ll take you through the next steps and the options to deal with your claim.
These will include the AA management of you claim from start to finish, arranging repairs to your vehicle and providing a replacement vehicle during the repairs. Or they’ll notify your insurer who will arrange the repairs and a courtesy car.
If you need to contact us, you can call:
- AA Car Insurance customer 0330 053 0322
- AA breakdown Member 0800 048 2678
Alternatively, you can choose to contact your insurer directly. Their phone number will be on your insurance documents.
What if I don’t make a claim?You should still tell Accident Assist or your insurer about the accident. Why? Because the other driver may try to make a claim without you knowing.
There are reasons why you may choose not to claim:
- To keep your no claim discount intact, if you haven’t added ‘protected no claim discount’ on your policy.
- If you decide to pay for the repairs yourself.
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Car Accident Here Is What To Do
This article has been reviewed by licensed insurance industry expert Moshe Fishman.
Did you know that the average driver will be in three to four automobile accidents during their lifetime? Even careful drivers get into car accidents, and even minor fender benders can be stressful and costly. Many drivers arent sure what theyre supposed to do after an accident. Knowing what you should do before you ever get in an accident will help alleviate the stress, chaos, and confusion that can occur immediately after. Read this, and you won’t find yourself on the side of the road, wondering what to do.
What this article covers:
- How to be prepared by understanding what you should do if you get into an accident.
- The best steps to follow when you are involved in an auto accident.
- Information you should collect when exchanging information with the other driver.
- Whether you should file a claim with your insurance company if you were at fault.
What you should know:
- Documenting the accident scene with pictures will help determine who was at fault.
- If the accident was your fault, you do not have to file a claim with your insurance company.
- You should seek medical attention even if your injuries seem minor.
