Navigating Insurance Claims After a Car Accident in Gwinnett County

Unfortunately, you have to work with insurance providers if you get injured in a car accident and want to pursue compensation. However, dealing with insurance companies after a Gwinnett County car accident can be difficult without a skilled attorney. Some insurance companies may use any method necessary to decrease the value of a claim.

We’re breaking down the process for filing an insurance claim for a car accident in this guide, so you’ll be better prepared when it’s time to contact your insurance provider.

• The Car Accident Claim Process in Georgia
  • Step 1: Notify Your Insurance Provider
  • Step 2: Provide Required Paperwork
  • Step 3: Fill Out Claim Forms
  • Step 4: Respond to Requests for Additional Information
  • Step 5: Review the Settlement Offer
  • Step 6: Negotiate with the Adjuster if You Disagree
• What to Do After an Accident to Make Your Claim Stronger
• More Tips for Dealing with the Car Accident Insurance Claim Process in Georgia
  • Avoid Giving Recorded Statements
  • Wait to Cash a Check from an Insurance Provider
  • Seek Multiple Estimates for Vehicle Damage
  • Keep Detailed Medical Records
  • Contest Your Citation
  • Get Legal Assistance if You Need It
• Contact an Attorney for Help Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Car Accident in Gwinnett County

The Car Accident Claim Process in Georgia

Let’s look at each step of how to file an insurance claim for a car accident in Gwinnett County.

Step 1: Notify Your Insurance Provider

Once the accident is over and you’ve documented as much evidence as you can, call your insurance company. You’ll want to give them all the relevant details, such as when and where the accident occurred, who was involved, and the other driver’s insurance company.

Start the claims process quickly—the sooner you notify your insurance provider, the sooner you may be able to get compensation. How long do you have to report a car accident to your insurance company? It varies by policy, but reporting it as soon as possible is usually best.

Step 2: Provide Required Paperwork

If you have no documentation to back up your claim, your insurance provider won’t be able to help you much. They’ll ask to see any information you have concerning the accident, such as:

• Photos of the vehicle damage
• Correspondence with the insurance company
• Police report of the accident
• Witness testimonies (if any)
• Medical reports and injury documentation
• Evidence of pain and suffering

Step 3: Fill Out Claim Forms

Your insurance provider will likely ask you to fill out some claim forms. Make sure you complete these as accurately as possible. The forms will probably ask you about things like:

• Your wage information
• Traffic conditions at the time of the accident
• Actual cash value of your vehicle

The insurance adjuster will use the information you provide to determine a settlement amount, so take care when filling these forms out. Be completely honest and pay special attention to any deadlines concerning your claim and paperwork. Too many delays could cost you your chance of getting compensation.

Step 4: Respond to Requests for Additional Information

After you’ve submitted the claim and all the relevant paperwork, an insurance adjuster will evaluate it. They’ll analyze everything you provide them, so it’s in your best interest to offer the most thorough and accurate documentation possible.

1. The adjuster examines police reports, photos, witness statements, and other elements from the scene of the accident to understand what happened.
2. Then, they analyze medical records to assess the severity and extent of your injuries.
3. They also determine who was at fault based on all this information.
4. Finally, the adjuster decides on a settlement amount based on the property damage and injuries sustained.

Step 5: Review the Settlement Offer

Carefully read the offer the insurance adjuster presents you. You want to be sure that it fully addresses your medical expenses, vehicle damage, and other liabilities from the accident. Don’t accept it just so the process can be over.

Having a personal injury attorney review the offer is also a good idea. At the Scott Pryor Law Group, we know a bad settlement offer when we see one. We work closely with car accident victims in Gwinnett County throughout the insurance claim process and can advise on whether to accept your offer or negotiate for a better one.

Step 6: Negotiate with the Adjuster if You Disagree

If you don’t agree with the adjuster’s offer and you want to negotiate, you’ll need to prepare the reasons why you disagree. For each reason, you should have adequate documentation to back it up. If you present your evidence and articulate your expectations well, it could potentially lead to a revised settlement offer.

What to Do After an Accident to Make Your Claim Stronger

Right after a car accident, you’re probably not thinking about the insurance claim you’ll have to file. You’re most likely concerned with the safety of your passengers, other drivers, and yourself. Once you can confirm no one needs immediate medical attention, you can start thinking about your car accident claim.

Here’s what you need to do to make things easier for yourself later on:

• Ensure you and everyone else is safe
• Assess the damage to your and other vehicles
• Call law enforcement and emergency services if needed
• Gather information from others at the scene
• Document evidence (photos, witness contact details, etc.)
• Contact an attorney

Being proactively cautious can pay off here: Find out if your insurance provider has information about what’s needed when you file a claim, such as a pamphlet, brochure, or digital PDF. Print out a copy and keep it in your vehicle to refer to if you get in a crash. If you weren’t at fault, you’ll need to know how to file an insurance claim against the other driver as well.

More Tips for Dealing with the Car Accident Insurance Claim Process in Georgia

The six-step process above only covers the basics of filing a car accident insurance claim. There are several more tips to keep in mind as you deal with an insurance adjuster and understanding Georgia insurance claim laws can help you avoid common pitfalls.

Avoid Giving Recorded Statements

Remember that insurance companies don’t have your best interests in mind. The less they have to pay you, the better for their bottom line. Some insurance companies therefore use recorded statements as a method of manipulating you into admitting fault or diminishing the severity of your injuries.

Their questions are designed to minimize or deny a claim. Our car accident attorneys always advise our clients to avoid giving a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Additionally, you shouldn’t speak with your own insurance companies without a legal advisor present.

It’s possible you won’t understand the full extent of your losses, especially your emotional damages, until much later. Insurance companies know this, so they may try to jeopardize your compensation by getting a recorded statement from you early on.

Wait to Cash a Check from an Insurance Provider

Some insurance companies send checks to an injured party that are below the value of their losses, hoping that they cash the check. This is called an accord and satisfaction, which means that by cashing this check, you agree that there are no further claims and you’re releasing the insurance company from any debts they may owe.

Therefore, a plaintiff should not automatically deposit such a check without consulting an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer. An attorney could review the contents of any letters or checks that an injured party may receive and determine if they are attempting to manipulate this individual into giving up their fair compensation.

Seek Multiple Estimates for Vehicle Damage

When the insurance adjuster asks for an estimate on the damage to your vehicle, don’t just hand over the first estimate you get. Go to multiple reputable repair shops and get estimates from them too. Compare costs to get a better, more solid idea of the damage done.

Keep copies of all these estimates to provide the adjuster. If they have more than one estimate to work with, it’ll be harder for them to undervalue your claim.

Keep Detailed Medical Records

For every medical appointment you have, ask for a record of the appointment and a receipt for any payment you make. If you get sent bills for emergency care, make and keep copies of them. If you get prescribed medication or treatments, ask for a prescription copy and keep the receipts for those as well.

It’s also crucial to communicate frequently with your healthcare providers to discuss how the accident has impacted their care. Ask them which expenses qualify for reimbursement under their insurance policy as well.

Contest Your Citation

In some accidents, the police don’t give out a ticket. It can be harder to determine fault when no one is issued a citation, but it’s not impossible. You shouldn’t let that stop you from filing your claim and pursuing compensation for your injuries.

If you’re the one issued with a citation and you’re not at fault, contest it. Don’t pay it—that’s considered a form of admitting guilt for the accident. You may be able to get it dismissed or you might have to go to trial, but a Gwinnett County personal injury lawyer can help you with the citation.

Get Legal Assistance if You Need It

Although we managed to boil it down to a six-step process, filing an insurance claim for a car accident can be pretty overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are so many minor details to keep track of and the potential to make mistakes is large.

The Scott Pryor Law Group can help you navigate your claim from start to finish. We can help you gather the documentation you’ll need, advise you on how to fill out the forms, and we can even communicate with the insurance company on your behalf.

When it comes to negotiating a settlement offer you don’t agree with, you’ll want to have a personal injury attorney on your side who’s negotiated hundreds of settlements for other car accident victims throughout Gwinnett County.

Contact an Attorney for Help Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Car Accident in Gwinnett County

Our team of personal injury attorneys is on your side—the insurance company is not. We know what a difficult time you’re going through, dealing with your injuries, a damaged or totaled car, and missing work because you have to get treatment. Expecting you to handle a daunting claims process in addition to all of that is a bit too much.

The Scott Pryor Law Group is ready to take you through the insurance claim process so you can be confident you’re getting a good deal from your provider. Contact us today for a free consultation so we can learn more about your case.