Determining how much compensation you will get to fix your car after a car accident is the biggest worry after assessing your own health.Once the cars are moved out of the way of traffic, and any injuries are attended to, you can get started determining car accident damages.
Step 1: Any medical concerns should be addressed.
If a person is involved in an accident and sustains an injury, call an ambulance.Injuries and treatment will factor into your compensation if you get copies of the treatment records.
Step 2: Take pictures of the damage to your car.
The insurance company can get a good idea of the extent of destruction by taking photos of both the interior and exterior.Take pictures that show the location of the vehicles involved in the crash.
Step 3: Take note of any personal property that was damaged in the accident.
This may include a CD player, laptop, purse, sunglasses, briefcase, infant car seat, cell phone, or any other item that you will have to repair or replace due to the accident.It doesn't include anything that may have been lost or stolen, but it does include items that you were wearing during the accident.
Step 4: From your point of view, write down the details of the accident.
If the police don't show up, you should write this information down.Your insurance company can use it to determine damages and fault.You should still file a police report if the police don't show up at the scene.
Step 5: Don't say you're guilty.
You only have one job at this time, which is to make notes about the situation, exchange contact information with the other driver, and help the police.The insurance companies will try to identify which party is guilty.If you are found guilty, you will file a claim with your own insurer.You will have to file a third-party claim if you don't.
Step 6: Talk to your insurance provider.
The basic details of the crash should be reported to your provider.This includes the vehicle on your policy that was involved, the driver of that vehicle at the time of the crash, and a description of how much damage was done.They will need the insurance numbers and contact information for the other driver in the crash.If there is a police report number, you may be asked to provide it.You'll be given a claim number and phone number for a point of contact at the provider.Don't forget to write these down.
Step 7: Fix the damage before it gets worse.
If your vehicle is still drivable, but has damage that may cause further damage to the vehicle if it is driven, your first step should be to get this damage taken care of.If your sunroof doesn't close, you need to get it fixed or risk water damage.Contact your insurance provider to get this fixed.Call them and tell them that your vehicle needs immediate repair.They will tell you what to do next.They will usually require you to take photos of the damage and send them to a repair shop to make sure the repairs were necessary.You should keep all the receipts for any repairs you have done.If you get any issues like this repaired, you are not responsible for the damage.
Step 8: Get a repair estimate.
You should get a repair shop to estimate the cost of repairing your vehicle after you have taken care of the critical damage.To get a written estimate of what repairs will be done, ask the shop.It's important that you get enough from your insurance provider to cover repairs.
Step 9: You can file a claim by calling your insurance company.
Within 24 hours of the accident, call the insurance company.The representative should know that you have pictures of the accident and a list of damaged personal property.You will be contacted by an adjuster for more information.Don't speculate or guess as to what happened in the crash.This information will be used to figure out who is at fault for the crash.You'll have to call your own insurer if you're at fault for the accident.Call the insurer of the guilty party if you were not.It is possible that you will have to make an appointment for a claims adjuster to look at your vehicle.If you schedule this visit as soon as possible, you will be able to get your car accident damages determined quickly.You will have to visit an authorized repair shop to get a repairs estimate from the insurance provider.
Step 10: Wait for the judgement from the insurance company.
The other person involved in the crash will have their fault determined by the insurance company.If one person is to be blamed for the crash, that person's insurance will have to pay.You will need to file a claim with the other driver's insurance provider if you are not at fault.To protect your interests, you will need to hire a lawyer.They can use a recorded statement against you down the road, so avoid it at all costs.Your insurer will pay for the damages to your vehicle if the crash was your fault.After assessing damage and repair costs, the adjuster will determine a payment for repairs to your vehicle.
Step 11: If you don't like the estimate, you can dispute it.
The adjuster's job is to give the lowest amount that the company will pay.Be prepared to negotiate with them up to the limit that they are authorized to give you, as they expect you to ask for more than their initial offer.It is possible to work up the amount of your claim using repair shop estimates.If your car is particularly old, rare, or otherwise expensive to repair, you can include additional labor costs.
Step 12: Know the limits of your policy as well as the maximum amount that your state allows to be paid in car accident damages.
Each state has different laws about how much can be paid out in car insurance claims.Medical bill and emotional distress are examples of damages that extend beyond car damage.You can't get a payment for repairs that are more than half of the car's value.Anything over this value is considered a total loss.At this point, the insurer will not repair the car, but will give you an amount equal to the market value of your car before the accident.Don't negotiate a payment higher than this amount if you want to keep your car.It is common for insurers to mark a payment of 50 percent of the car's value or greater as a total loss.
Step 13: Check for diminished value coverage.
Diminished value coverage provides you with an additional payment for the loss of value your car will experience after being in a car accident.You can estimate your car's loss in value to see how much you will get.You can calculate diminished value for more information.
Step 14: You can be compensated for more than just the damage to your car.
Money can be received for loss of income, emotional loss, or permanent physical injuries.You should keep a record of the days you have taken off work due to injuries or doctor appointments.When possible, keep track of your medical bills.Obtaining payment for medical bills directly after the accident and loss of income from an insurer is fairly easy, as these can easily be quantified, however, if you are going to seek ongoing treatment or general damages payments, you may want to retain an attorney.General damages are calculated using a multiple.This number is used to arrive at a settlement amount for your medical bills.A relatively non-serious injury might have a multiple of two, whereas a very serious injury may have one as high as 10.
Step 15: If you have evidence to back up your case, you should hire a lawyer.
If the other person's insurance doesn't cover your medical costs or refuses to pay them, you can hire an attorney.You should look for an experienced personal injury attorney in your area.You can do things without hiring an attorney.An independent appraisal may be performed on the damages.If you don't believe the insurer is negotiating in good faith, you can try to file a claim against them.