Settling a Car Accident Claim
Posted on August 15, 2017 Written By: iadminlaw
When you’re involved in a car accident, it’s understandable that you’d want to settle any related vehicle damage or personal injury claims against the other driver sooner rather than later. Indeed, it’s normal to just want to get on with your life—but how? In this post, our car accident lawyers offer some guidelines for settling as swiftly as possible.
How the Claims Process Works
When settling a claim in California, it’s customary to deal with the other driver indirectly, through insurance companies. This is true even when you were not at fault and the other driver is solely responsible for the accident.
At the Scene of the Accident
As such, the claim settlement process really begins at the scene of the accident, where you need to collect salient information from the other motorist(s) involved. This includes names and contact information, plus the name of the insurance company. In addition, it’s smart to collect the names and contact information of any witnesses who are there. Also write down the name of the police officer who arrives on the scene. (You will always want to ensure the police are called to file a report, even if the incident is fairly minor.)
While at the scene of the accident, it’s also prudent to take some snapshots, using the camera on your phone; make sure your photos encompass the locations of the vehicles, any areas of visible damage, and the license plate of each vehicle involved.
Beyond the Scene of the Accident
The reason all this information is important is that the other driver’s insurance company will require it of you. Having a police report and possible witnesses to corroborate what you’re saying can help.
Here it is important to stress that the other driver’s insurance company is not on your side. To avoid having to pay out your claim, the insurer will try to argue that the accident was your fault, or that you did not provide enough documentation to prove otherwise. As such, rigorousness in your data collection is key.
Of course, the entire process can be frustrating, and the insurance company will try to make you jump through as many hoops as possible. They are hoping, frankly, that you give up. That’s why it can be so beneficial to have a lawyer who can fight the battle for you—a lawyer like those found at I Accident Lawyer, a leading personal injury firm in California.
Get Help Settling Your Claim
As you will discover, settling a car accident case can be laborious—yet when you have the right people in your corner, it’s considerably easier.
We encourage you to find out more about legal representation in your area. If you are involved in an accident in California, reach out to the team at I Accident Lawyer. We only represent drivers who are involved in accidents, and we will deal with the opposing insurance company on your behalf. Connect with us whenever the need arises, and get representation you can depend on.
