If you are involved in a car accident and suffered some injuries, you should file an insurance claim with your insurer, the insurer of the other party, or both. This claim is critical to receive compensation for incurred medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages from the accident.
As part of the claim process, you’ll be required to provide all the necessary information surrounding the incident, plus the extent of your injuries. However, according to the experts at maho-prentice.com, you’ll need legal representation to successfully follow through with the claim negotiations, interviews, and court trials.
Below, we have rounded up the key differences between first-party and third-party claims, plus the other vital tips you should know about the car accident claim process.
First-Party vs. Third-Party Claims
The type of claim to file after an accident will largely depend on who is to blame for the accident. Ideally, a first-party claim is filed with your own insurance company, while a third-party claim is filed with the insurance company of the party at fault. However, determining an at-fault party can sometimes be challenging depending on the nature of the incident. In such instances, you should consult an experienced attorney who will keenly look at the matter and advise you on the way forward.
Your attorney will recommend filing first-party insurance with your insurance company if you are at fault. Otherwise, you will file a third-party claim with the insurance of the party at fault. This also applies to other road users, such as pedestrians who suffer injuries from accidents caused by at-fault drivers or riders.
In some circumstances, however, you can file both first-party and third-party claims, especially when you can prove that the at-fault party doesn’t have adequate liability coverage to compensate you for the damages caused.
Navigating the Claim Process
Once you have filed a claim, the insurance company will begin investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. The claim adjuster may request an interview with both parties and even a copy of the police report. This is a critical step of the claim process that should be handled with expert legal representation. Navigating this process alone could have you say the wrong words or contradict yourself, hence forfeiting the compensation.
To avoid this, you should look for an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area. If you are a resident of Louisiana, you want to choose a reputed law firm, such as Berger Law New Orleans, to get professional and expert legal representation after the accident.
Endnote
After being involved in an accident and depending on your physical and emotional state, you should contact the police before figuring out why or how the accident occurred. Afterward, contact your lawyer before talking to the other driver or even checking their license and insurance. You also want to take pictures of the scene, i.e., the skid marks, the debris, or any damage on your car. These will serve as evidence once the claim process begins.
The next step is to seek expert medical attention. It’s advisable to visit a medical professional specializing in car accidents and trauma. This is because they have the resources and skills needed to check for hidden injuries and other accident-related health issues. Sticking with this procedure will help you avoid the common mistakes people make after a car accident. From here, your lawyer will help you navigate the claim process, from negotiations and interviews to litigation, if any.
