Being involved in a car accident can be a catastrophic and life-changing event. If you’ve never been involved in an accident before, you may feel lost and not know where to start. However, you can use these steps to filing a car accident claim as a basic guide.
Step 1: Obtain an Accident Report and Gather Evidence
Among the first things you should do after a Philadelphia car accident is obtaining an official report. The law requires accidents to be reported to the City of Philadelphia if no police responded to the accident. If you did call 911 and a police filed an official report, however, you do not need to report the accident to the city. This report isn’t just required by law; it can also go a long way in supporting your car accident claim.
In addition to an accident report, there are other important pieces of evidence you can collect as you build your case. For example, photos of videos of the accident scene, witness statements, and medical records all play an important role in a successful car accident claim. If you were seriously injured during the accident and transported to the emergency room, these types of evidence are critical. The purpose of evidence cannot be understated because it helps prove who was at fault for the accident as well as the nature and cost of your damages.
Step 2: Determine Your Insurance Coverage
You may want to review your insurance policy to determine the level of coverage you have before contacting your insurance company. In Pennsylvania, you are required to carry at least these minimum amounts of coverage:
- $5,000 in medical benefits for you or others
- $15,000 for one person or $30,000 for the entire accident in bodily injury liability
- $5,000 for property damage
You also have the option to choose limited or full tort coverage. While limited tort coverage impacts your ability to file a lawsuit for pain and suffering damages, full tort coverage puts no limit on the amount of damages you may seek. Knowing the type of coverage is important to your case, especially if you were a victim of a hit-and-run or were involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.
Step 3: Contact Your Insurance
Once you have as much evidence as possible and understand your insurance coverage, it’s time to contact your insurance company and present your claim. When discussing the facts of the accident, avoid admitting fault. Stick to the facts and allow them to do their work. Your insurance company will review the evidence to determine fault and calculate your damages before presenting you with a settlement offer.
Step 4: Discuss Your Options with an Attorney
If you’ve filed an insurance claim for a Philadelphia car accident and receive a settlement offer that doesn’t cover your losses, your next step is to speak to an attorney. A car accident attorney will negotiate with insurance on your behalf and can help gather further evidence to strengthen your case. Often, car accident victims are met with lowball offers with no more room for negotiation.
In those cases, your attorney can help you file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Your lawyer will help you understand the process more as you navigate your unique case. Understand that you don’t have to go through the claims process alone; the skilled team at the Jason Javie Law Office is here to help. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to see which options are right for you.