Proof of Damages Insurance Adjusters Will Likely Look for in a Car Accident Claim

Proof of Damages Insurance Adjusters Will Likely Look for in a Car Accident Claim Have you recently been injured in a car accident? You might have medical bills that are starting to pile up and understandably cause stress. Luckily, there are ways you can seek compensation in Boynton Beach, Florida, to bring some financial relief. One of these ways is by filing a claim with your insurance.  Although it may sound easy, the process can be quite difficult depending on the details and severity of injuries. Filing an insurance claim for personal injury protection can be a tedious process that requires a thorough investigation on your insurance adjuster’s end to see if you’re telling the truth.  What proof of damage will your insurance adjuster look at for a car accident? The experts at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers are here to inform you. Here’s what you should provide your insurance adjuster and how to go about filing your claim. 

How To File A Claim After A Car Accident

Florida is one of the several states that operates with a modified comparative fault system. The goal of having this in place is to reduce the number of lawsuits that are filed and to have individuals in car accidents seek compensation through their insurance policies. The modified comparative fault system means that every driver involved in a car accident is responsible for the wreck to some degree, even if it wasn’t primarily one of the driver’s fault.  Due to this, Florida has made it a requirement for every driver to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection and property damage liability. However, neither of these two coverages will provide you with monetary assistance for damages to your car. Assistance for that will have to come from collision coverage, which is optional coverage that you can consider adding on. There are ways to step out of the no-fault system and file a legal claim against the other driver, but you should contact a Boynton Beach Car Accident Lawyer that can tell you if your case meets the requirements for a lawsuit.  To receive assistance after a car accident, you will need to file a claim with your insurance. Your attorney can speak to the insurance adjuster on your behalf to inform them that you were involved in an accident and would like to file a claim. Once your claim request has been submitted, the investigation process will begin.

What Is an Insurance Adjuster and What Do They Do?

An insurance adjuster is the person responsible for reviewing the evidence in your claim to determine if or how much you should be offered in compensation. Filing a claim with your insurance is similar to filing a lawsuit—the adjuster will investigate all of the evidence to ensure you are telling the truth about your accident.  Insurance adjusters can be intimidating people to speak with. If you are not careful, your claim could be denied or heavily-reduced by words or phrases you may accidentally say.  The insurance adjusters can determine a fair claim settlement by:

• Interviewing
• Visiting your vehicle to assess damages
• Looking at photos and videos of the accident
• Speaking to witnesses
• Reviewing medical and police reports

Depending on the severity and details of the wreck, it can take a few months to hear back from your adjuster about a potential settlement. Although Florida requires drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in PIP and PDL, know that you may not end up receiving that full amount or even half of that figure. However, with the help of a great Boynton Beach Car Accident Lawyer, you could have a better chance at a fair outcome. 

Evidence Insurance Adjusters Will Look For

The goal of filing a claim with an insurance adjuster is to have the evidence they want to see that paints your position and what happened. Evidence can significantly make or break your settlement figure.  The evidence insurance adjusters will look for in regards to your accident include:

• Photos or videos that show damages and/or how the accident occurred
• Medical records
• Police report
• Witness statements
• Preexisting conditions before the accident

How To Gather Evidence After a Car Accident

Some sources of evidence can be trickier to gather than others. For instance, if the wreck happened on a backroad or in a location where there are no businesses or buildings, it could be difficult to find a video that shows the wreck perfectly. However, there are steps you can take to gather evidence at the scene and use it in your claim.  It is important to immediately call law enforcement after any car accident you are in. It’s a legal requirement for drivers, and the police will file an unbiased report that you can request a copy of to use in your insurance claim and lawsuit if your case permits one.  The second thing you should do is take photos that can also serve as evidence. Things you will need to take photos of include:

• Injuries
• Car damages
• Road intrusions or objects
• Any other items that can serve as visual proof

Anytime law enforcement is called to the scene of a car accident, paramedics will arrive too. It is highly recommended to have a medical examination regardless of if you have visible injuries or not.  Medical records can serve to prove and calculate the cost of your damages, especially because this is what your PIP plays heavily into. It is also possible that you could have internal injuries you are unaware of and need to be treated for immediately.  Notice any witnesses that are nearby and saw the whole scene unfold that you could use later on for witness statements. Ask them if they would be willing to make a statement and if they agree, ask for their contact information to refer back to later on.  If you have issues collecting information for your car accident claim, let your attorney know. They can help you gather necessary information or give you advice on how to proceed with what you have. 

Before You Speak to Insurance, Call Us

At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we understand how the process of filing an insurance claim works. We know how insurance companies will look for any possible ways to reduce your claim and save their business money, which is why we want to help before this happens. Most people assume the help of an attorney is a last resort measure. However, we believe this couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Our attorneys can help you file your claim and speak on your behalf so that no insurance adjuster takes advantage of this unfortunate situation. We will use our skills to negotiate and help you seek compensation.  If you would like to sit down and discuss your claim possibilities with one of our attorneys, schedule a no-obligation free consultation at your earliest convenience. To do this, call our firm at (561) 800-8000 or leave your information in our online form.  We look forward to hearing from you.