After a car accident, insurance claims are typically filed with the at-fault driver’s car auto insurance company, whether it be State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, Geico, or any of the others. But, when do you file the claim, how do you file the claim, and what do you tell the claims representative?
Remember, if you hire Flattmann Law, we handle the entire process, including filing the insurance claim, so you don’t have to worry about any of this…. But, if you choose to go it alone, here are some tips:
When to file an insurance claim?: You should file an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance as soon as possible following a car wreck. Don’t rely on the other driver to file the claim for you. Sometimes they don’t, thinking that maybe you won’t file the claim and they will avoid the situation altogether.
Should you file the claim with a local insurance agent?: Typically, it is easier and more direct to file the claim by calling the insurance company’s main 1-800 number. If you file the claim with a local agent, it may feel more comfortable, but in reality, they simply turn around and report it to the main claims team anyway.
How long will it take to file a claim?: Filing an auto insurance claim can usually take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much information the auto insurance company already has about the wreck. But be warned, depending on the insurance company and the day/time you call, just reaching the representative may require being on hold for upwards of an hour.
When You Hire Flattmann Law You Dont Have To Worry, We Take Care Of It All.
What should I say?: If you hire Flattmann Law to handle your car wreck case, you don’t have to worry about saying anything to the insurance adjuster. We take care of it all. But, if you are handling your own claim, our advice is to be very careful in what you say. The adjuster will be recording or taking detailed notes of everything you say. (We know this because in almost every case we handle where our client spoke to an adjuster before hiring us, the adjuster tries to use things our clients said in their initial phone call against them).
Regarding your injuries and medical treatment, remember that it may take a few days or even a few weeks for some injuries to reveal themselves. For example, if your low back is severely injured following an accident, your neck pain may not seem as severe at the time. After a few days, however, you may notice that you aren’t able to look to the left without pain. Be careful when the adjuster asks you “how are you doing?”
Have You Been Injured In A Car Wreck And Need Help With The Claims Process?
If you've been hurt in a car wreck and would like to leave the claims process up to an experienced car wreck attorney contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.
