Understanding Insurance Coverage in Car Accident Claims

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

Immediately following a car accident, the first thing you should do is check for injuries. Even if nobody appears hurt, call 911.

While waiting for law enforcement and paramedics to arrive, gather evidence. This may include taking photos, recording videos, or speaking with eyewitnesses. Then, trade insurance information with the other driver.

At this point, regardless of whether or not anybody was injured or who was to blame, contact your insurance provider. Then, contact the other driver’s insurance provider to tell them you want to file a personal injury claim and a property damage claim.

Seek medical attention, even if you do not feel injured.

And then call your personal injury attorney.

Should You Speak with Insurance Adjusters?

No. An insurance adjuster may seem sympathetic and kind, but they’re not on your side. They could use anything you say after the crash against you to reduce the payout for your settlement.

If an insurance adjuster approaches you, direct them to your personal injury lawyer instead.

What Are the Basic Types of Car Insurance Policies to Consider?

Review your car insurance policy after an accident. It could be that you have the basic, mandatory minimum level of coverage for your state, but you may also have additional coverage on your insurance policy.

Liability insurance is essential coverage that you must have. If you’re held liable for damages in a car accident, liability insurance will help pay those expenses.

Collision insurance covers car damage and repairs expenses if you drive into an object or another driver strikes you. Most insured drivers have some level of collision insurance on their policy.

Other forms of coverage include:

• Comprehensive coverage covers damages if your motor vehicle was damaged in an event other than a car accident. For example, fire, vandalism, theft, falling trees, and weather events.
• MedPay, like PIP, covers medical bills regardless of who is at fault.
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage for accidents if the at-fault driver was uninsured.
• Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage if an uninsured motorist damages your car.

Why Are Common Reasons Car Accident Claims Denied by Insurance Companies?

Insurance companies want to save money if they can. They will deny a claim if they find a good reason. And because of that, it’s good to be prepared.

Common reasons a car insurance company may deny an accident claim:

• Delayed before seeing a doctor. After your car accident, you absolutely must seek medical treatment. Even if you feel okay, it’s essential that you get checked out by a medical professional, as some injuries may take time to manifest. Those who don’t seek medical care may have difficulty convincing insurance companies that they were severely hurt. And if the injury later manifests days after the accident, an insurer may claim that the injury was unrelated to the car crash.
• Preventable accidents. Insurance companies may deny claims if they have strong reason to believe that the auto accident was avoidable. For example , the insurer may not accept your car accident claim if an unlicensed or underaged individual drove the car.
• Statute of limitations. There is a certain window of time for an accident victim to file a claim. For car accident victims in Colorado, that period is three years. Any claim made after the three-year statute of limitations will be dismissed.

Contact Our Law Firm to Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

Car insurance is a complicated and troublesome part of our legal system. But it’s also, unfortunately, a necessary element of it, too. If you don’t understand everything about car insurance, that’s okay. That’s not a failing on your part. It’s a lot for any one person to keep track of.

Good thing we’re here to help.

Flanagan Law prides itself on providing our clients with compassionate, client-focused legal services. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with us for a free case evaluation. We want to put your mind at ease wherever possible, which means researching to answer every question you have for us.

Call our Commerce City personal injury law offices today. 720-928-9178.