Filing an insurance claim after a car accident is a dispiriting experience. You look at your notes when talking to the claims adjuster when you first open the claim by reporting the accident to the insurance company, but then you get an endless flurry of phone calls and postal mail asking you questions about the accident that you are sure you already answered. When the settlement check arrives, it is months after the accident, and the money is less than you were hoping to get, but at least you are glad that the ordeal of dealing with the insurance company is over, and the settlement check partially reimburses you for your accident-related financial losses.
Your feeling of relief is short-lived, though, because your premiums increase after the accident. To avoid this frustrating situation, especially if your claim includes medical expenses, you can enlist the help of the same people who, in more disastrous situations than yours, file lawsuits on behalf of people injured in accidents. The key to a successful car accident insurance claim could be to contact a Santa Fe car accident lawyer.
Be Prompt, but Not Too Hasty, With Your Insurance Claim
The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in New Mexico is three years from the date of the accident. People only file lawsuits after they have unsuccessfully attempted to get enough money to cover their accident-related financial losses by filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Therefore, time is of the essence for initiating your insurance claim, but you should not rush.
Before you file the claim, make sure you have collected the most important pieces of evidence to support your claim. Take pictures of the vehicle damage and, if applicable, of your physical injuries at the scene of the accident, and file a police report even if the police do not come to investigate the accident on their own initiative. Go to the emergency room and have a doctor examine your injuries, even if they seem minor; this way, you will have an official report of how and when your injuries happened.
When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
Insurance companies are in the business of paying as little as possible on your claim. They will look for other explanations, no matter how implausible, for some of your accident-related symptoms. Anything you say in a recorded statement with an insurance company can and will be used against you. Do not sign the insurance settlement offer letter if the offer is not enough to cover your accident-related losses. It is better to have a lawyer interact with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure that you get a fair settlement offer.
Contact Slate Stern About Personal Injury Lawsuits
Slate Stern is a personal injury lawyer who represents plaintiffs injured in car accidents. Contact Slate Stern in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or call (505)814-1517 to discuss your case.
Sources
https://www.allstate.com/resources/car-insurance/how-to-file-a-car-insurance-claim
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