Many insurers now allow you to file a claim right from your smartphone. You can still call the insurance company or contact them through their website. An Atlanta car accident lawyer can guide you through the claims process and protect your interests.
The terms “first-party claim” and “third-party claim” refer to the insurance company handling your car accident claim. First-party claims are filed with your own insurance provider, including:
Third-party claims refer to the claims you file against the driver who caused the accident or who may have liability for your injuries and losses (such as the owner of the vehicle if someone other than the driver). A third-party claim involves seeking compensation from the at-fault driver’s liability coverage under their auto insurance policy. Georgia motorists must carry liability insurance, with the minimum required policy limits depending on whether the insurance covers a personal automobile or different types of commercial vehicles.
Before you notify your insurer about a car accident or file a claim, you should collect certain information to assist you when speaking to an adjuster. This information may include the following:
If you already have a car accident attorney, you can also give your insurer your lawyer’s contact information. Your attorney can handle speaking with the insurance company on your behalf so you can focus on your medical recovery.
The deadline for filing a claim with a car insurance company after an accident can vary depending on the company. Many insurance policies require the policyholder to notify the insurance company of an accident within a certain period after a car accident, usually around 30 days. If you are unsure of the filing deadline, contact a car accident attorney who can review your insurance policy.
Georgia law imposes a deadline for filing a lawsuit after a car accident. Specifically, you have two years to file a lawsuit after a car crash. The court can permanently dismiss a lawsuit filed after the expiration of the statutory deadline. Speak to a lawyer if you think you can file a lawsuit.
Georgia insurance regulations impose standards for the processing of insurance claims. Typically, insurers must acknowledge receipt of a notice of claim and provide any applicable proof of loss forms within 15 days. Insurers then have 15 days after receiving a completed proof of loss form to decide whether to accept or deny the claim. If the insurer does not require proof of loss forms, they have 30 days to investigate the claim. If the insurer approves the claim, they have ten days to make payment.
In practice, processing an insurance claim often takes longer due to multiple factors, such as the severity of your injuries or delays in providing the insurance company with any requested information. Most insurers have internal policies for how long the insurer has to respond to any communications from a claimant.
Some of the most frequent reasons for denials of insurance claims after a car accident include the following:
Remember that the at-fault party’s insurer wants to minimize or deny your insurance claim to avoid paying you money. Generally, when speaking with an adjuster from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you should never:
These tips can also help you with a claim with your insurance company. Unfortunately, your insurance company will want to minimize its financial liability to you. It may use the same tactics as the at-fault driver’s insurer to reduce the value of your claim.
An attorney can help you through the insurance claims process by:
If you have read this page after suffering injuries in a car accident, we hope you have gotten the medical attention you need to begin the recovery process. We also hope that the information on this page has helped you better understand your rights after a car crash. If you’d like to talk to our car accident attorneys about your legal options, call Butler Kahn or contact us online. There is no upfront charge to speak with us about your claim.