How to Determine Damages After a Car Accident

After a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for injury and property damage.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Police Report
• 3 Value Appraisals
• Car Insurance
• 2 car repair estimates

Dealing With the Other Insurance Company

1. Make certain the other driver has all pertinent information to turn over to his or her insurer, including your name, address, telephone numbers and vehicle type.

2. Follow up with a telephone call to the other driver's insurance agent and outline any injuries and damages.

3. Cooperate completely when asked for estimates of damage or when asked to let your vehicle be inspected by a claims representative.

4. Present a list of other property damaged in the accident: luggage, cameras, cellular phones.

5. Know that your claim extends beyond the actual costs of injury to include pain and suffering and lost work time.

Filing a Claim

6. Secure a copy of the police report.

7. Know what protection your insurance policy provides.

8. Sign a medical release so that injury records will be made available to the insurance company.

9. Make a claim for any injuries under medical pay coverage, even if you have other coverages or if the other person is responsible.

10. Make a claim for injury, lost wages or extended disability under uninsured motorist coverage if the other party was at fault but not insured or inadequately insured.

11. Secure at least two car repair estimates, or three value appraisals if your car was totaled.

12. Present estimates and allow your car to be photographed and inspected.

13. Present bills for towing and storage costs.

14. Ask your agent to help arrange for a temporary substitute vehicle if you have rental reimbursement coverage.

15. Notify your agent of any damage from the accident discovered during the course of car repairs.

Tips & Warnings

• Remain polite but persistent when dealing with insurance representatives.
• Certain losses resulting from wind, hail, flood or vandalism are paid under comprehensive coverage, and no deductible (or a lesser one) may apply.
• Be patient to avoid losing compensation for damages that may not be readily apparent.
• Expect your car's value to be determined by its condition at the time of loss. A high mileage car is worth less than an identical car with less mileage.
• Be prepared to pay any deductible to the repair shop.
• The insurance company will be allowed to deal only with the attorney if you use one.

[peterlakh]

on 3/11/2009 You can actually get a free case review of your car accident from www.caraccidentattorneys.com They have lots of expert lawyers listed all around the country apparently. I had my case reviewed for free and the attorney I was connected with was able to build a strong legal case that ended up going to court and winning a substantial settlement for the injuries I occured. I'd highly recommend to get your case reviewed for free, they were very helpful and assissted me throughout the entire process.

[Starlet72]

on 5/7/2008 Contact a personal injury lawyer at 1-800-NOW-HURT or online at www.1800NowHurt.com. They can help you find a good doctor and who then will assess the injuries you sustained and the treatment you will need. The attorney will take your information and build a legal case around it that will help you pay the damages, medical bills, time missed from work, pain and suffering an even future damages. When i got into an accident, i didn't know what to do, but the lawfirm of Buttafuoco & Associates was there for me every step of the way. The least i can do for them is to recommend them to others! Tell them Kristen sent you! :)

on 11/22/2005 The blanket medical release form sent to you by the insurance company of the other driver may ask you to give them access to every medical record since your birth. Do you really want your opponent to have the opportunity to see private, unrelated medical information and use it to embarrass you?
Keep your medical records private until you send a demand letter to the other driver's insurance company, then, and only then, sign a medical release form you obtain from your heath care provider, which outlines specifically what is to be released, the date of the accident forward, only for accident-related medical information.