Does the insurance cover bodily injury or just property damage? This determines if there is coverage that pays for injuries or just vehicles and property. Some insurance policies require you to name the driver on the policy in order for it to pay for your damages. Another factor is the policy amount, which is the maximum amount an insurance company will cover in damages. Policies will range from $0 to millions of dollars. That is why it is very important to exchange insurance policies after an accident. Sadly, many drivers are uninsured, which means if you are hit by one, you may not get any compensation unless you have uninsured motorist coverage, which is a product you can pay for to protect you in these situations. 

Insurance claims are most commonly paid by the at fault driver’s insurance. Just because someone admits fault to you at the scene of the accident does not mean they are taking blame. Their insurance company is the one that will be paying the claim and will try to deny or reduce the amount of fault their driver had in an accident. The amount of fault or negligence plays a large part in determining if a claim will be paid and how much. Some jurisdictions will not allow certain recoveries if you are even barely at fault for an accident, while others will pay as long as you are not 100% at fault. Most states across the country follow the rule that “the person more at fault” is the 

“at fault party” and will be responsible for paying damages.

You should always call the police after an accident for the sole purpose of documenting the incident. Because the details are fresh and our minds tend to forget and fill in gaps, the accident report is real-time and more accurately documents what happened. This will also prevent any “he said” or “she said“ scenarios, which is one of the biggest reasons for accident claims to be denied or dragged out with no results. 

Millions of car accidents result in injuries ranging from soreness to broken bones and even fatalities. The severity of the injuries determines the amount of a potential settlement. The amount of medical bills is more of a starting point for settlement negotiations. If your injuries caused you to miss work, your claim will include a component for lost wages. Also, depending on the injuries and how they impact daily life and even the enjoyment of life, they can lead to significant amounts in pain and suffering that may even be more than the medical bills incurred. 

It is a good idea to get checked out by a doctor after being involved in an accident. Most people don’t realize they are injured after an accident because the body releases large amounts of adrenaline to protect the body and block pain receptors. Most injuries are described as occurring while exercising and not causing pain until days later. Actual treatment depends in large part on not only whether you get a settlement but also the amount of the settlement. Pain is not a documented injury. However, visiting a doctor for the pain documents it and should also come with a diagnosis of the cause. The provider may even recommend physical therapy, chiropractic care, and/or massage therapy to help. Trying to tough out pain after an accident can hurt a claim because the length of time from an incident to the time you actually go to the doctor can make it seem like there was not an injury from the accident, and the injury may be new and is being blamed on the accident. 

Accident settlement offers made right after the accident tend to be low but may sound appealing. Before accepting a settlement offer, it is wise to know how much the accident is actually going to cost you in the long term. Also, there are deadlines to file accident claims, and these deadlines differ from state to state, and claim deadlines may differ based on the insurance company. Reporting of the accident should take place as soon as possible. You may be asked to provide a recorded statement to the insurance company, so be sure you know your rights before providing one.