Filing a Claim After an Accident? Here Is a Look at the Claim Process

An auto insurance claim deadline refers to the period of time between the accident and when you begin the claim process. The insurance claim may be made with your insurance carrier or with the other driver’s insurer (known as a “third-party” claim), depending on the type of coverage you have and the specifics of the accident. There is often no set time limit for filing a car insurance claim; instead, it depends on how quickly your insurer can look at your claim.

When to File a Claim After an Accident

The “statute of limitations,” which specifies how long you have to wait to bring a claim or lawsuit, varies by state and depends on the nature of the claim, such as whether it involves property damage or bodily harm. You typically have two years to submit a car insurance claim, but depending on where the accident occurred, you might also have one to ten years. However, you might be obligated to notify your insurance provider of the accident within 30 days. In general, it’s in your best interest to submit an insurance claim as quickly as you can to ensure that you can recall as many specifics of the collision as possible.

Factors That Can Affect the Insurance Timeline

1. First-Party vs. Third-Party Insurance ClaimInsurance claims for the first party and third party are distinct.In a first-party claim, you have to submit the claim to your own insurance provider as opposed to the driver’s insurance provider in a third-party claim. A third party may submit a claim against your insurance carrier, for instance, if you cause an accident on the motorway and hurt a passenger in the other car. If you make a claim with the insurance company for the other driver, they will look into it and settle it once they are confident that their policyholder is accountable for your losses or injuries. Depending on the state, these claims have various deadlines. For instance, in New Jersey, an insurer is allowed 30 days to settle a first-party claim and 45 days for a third-party claim.
2. At-Fault vs. No-Fault StateWhen you get into an accident with another driver, your car insurance policy can step in to help protect your finances from the fallout. However, insurance claims are settled differently depending on your state’s fault laws. In a no-fault state, your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance covers your own medical bills, whereas, in an at-fault state, the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage pays for the other driver’s hospital bills. Understanding how claims are settled in your state could help you feel more comfortable with the claims process if you are involved in an accident.

How to File an Auto Insurance Claim?

Here are some tips on filing an appropriate insurance claim:

• Document Evidence: Always take photos and videos of the damage as evidence
• Supply Information: Be prepared to provide the insurance company with details regarding the accident. This includes Names, telephone numbers, addresses, and driver’s license numbers from all drivers, passengers, and witnesses.
• Contact your insurance company: File a claim with your insurance provider to get coverage for the damage. You might have to pay a deductible. It is the amount of money you must pay out of pocket before your insurance will cover the rest.
• Prepare for the claims adjuster: After filing your claim, wait for the insurer to accept or deny it. If your claim is accepted, the insurance company will make an offer of settlement. If the offer isn’t what you expected, you can attempt to negotiate a fair settlement.

Consult Reardon Agency to Cover Yourself During Accidents

It’s important to ensure you have adequate auto insurance coverage to protect yourself and your vehicle in the event of an unfortunate accident. The experts at Reardon Insurance Agency  can help you in this process. Contact us today to get started on your customized coverage!