4 Things You Should Know About Car Accident Claims

If you are in a car accident, then you will likely need to file a claim in order to receive your due compensation. If you are considering the option to file a car accident claim, then it is important that you understand a few key facts. The following are 4essential things you should know about car accident claims

#1: Local laws can impact car accident claims

Most people do not know that local laws can actually impact a car accident claim. Local laws may indicate what type of claims people are allowed to file as well as how likely it is that the claim will end in their favor. If you don’t know your local laws regarding claims, make sure you ask your legal team to explain if–and how–local laws could influence your particular claim.

#2: Emotional pain and suffering matters

It is easy to assume that the only damages that claims will consider are tangible damages, such as valued damage to your car or physical damage you received due to the accident which can be backed by medical services. However, emotional pain and suffering–or emotional damage–does matter in regards to filing a car accident claim. Any emotional damage you now experience, which can include how the accident has impacted your life in the long term, may entitle you to more compensation.

#3: Do not take the first offer from your insurance company

If your insurance provider provides you an offer after your car accident, you should resist the temptation to accept the offer.More likely than not, an insurance company will be offering you a lower amount of money than you are actually entitled to receive, because they are hoping that you will act impulsively rather than wait. If you wait and negotiate, you will be able—in most cases—to receive more compensation due to damages received during the accident.

#4: You don’t always need an attorney

There are a few cases where you don’t really need a legal team after filing a car accident claim. If you were in a very minor car accident where you did not experience any injuries whatsoever or the damage to the car was cosmetic (such as a scratch to the paint) then you won’t need the assistance of an attorney experienced in car accident claims to receive fair compensation. However, if you suspect that you may have been injured in the accident—even if the accident didn’t appear to be serious—you should hold out on accepting an offer until you can receive medical attention. Even a seemingly simple minor accident could cause injuries, so it’s best to be on the safe side.

If you have been in a car accident and are going to file a car accident claim, remember to keep the above 4 facts in mind. This will help you better navigate your claim and better understand how you can receive the best compensation possible after experiencing an accident.