Filing a Lawsuit or Insurance Claim
Motor vehicle accidents can result in significant physical, emotional, and financial consequences. When an accident occurs, victims often face the immediate question of how to seek compensation for their injuries, damages, and losses. Depending on the circumstances, this can involve filing an insurance claim, pursuing a lawsuit, or sometimes both. Understanding the processes and determining the best course of action is crucial to ensuring that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Depending on the circumstances of your motor vehicle accident (MVA) you may be able to file a claim with the help of MVA lawyers College Park, MD motorists can rely on.
Filing an Insurance Claim
The first step after a motor vehicle accident typically involves filing an insurance claim. There are two primary types of claims you might file:
1. First-Party Claims: This involves filing a claim with your own insurance company. If you have coverage like personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage, you can seek compensation for medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who was at fault. In no-fault insurance states, filing a first-party claim is often the only option for recovering minor injury-related expenses.
2.Third-Party Claims: This involves filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. In fault-based states, if the other driver was responsible for the accident, you can file a third-party claim to recover compensation for medical expenses, vehicle repairs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The Insurance Claim Process
When filing an insurance claim, it’s important to act promptly. Here are the general steps involved:
1. Report the Accident: Notify your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. Provide them with accurate details about the incident, including the date, time, location, and any other relevant information.
2. Gather Evidence: Collect evidence from the accident scene, such as photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, and visible injuries. Obtain a copy of the police report and gather contact information from witnesses.
3. Medical Documentation: Seek medical attention immediately, even if you think your injuries are minor. Medical records and documentation are crucial for proving the extent of your injuries and justifying the compensation you seek.
4. Negotiate with the Insurance Adjuster: The insurance company will assign an adjuster to evaluate your claim. Be prepared for negotiation, as insurance adjusters often aim to minimize payouts. You have the right to negotiate and seek a fair settlement that covers all your damages.
Filing a Lawsuit
If the insurance claim process does not result in a satisfactory settlement, or if the accident resulted in severe injuries or significant damages, filing a lawsuit may be necessary. Here are the key considerations when pursuing a lawsuit:
Determining Fault: In a lawsuit, you must prove that the other party was at fault for the accident and that their negligence directly caused your injuries. This often requires gathering evidence such as witness testimonies, traffic camera footage, and expert analysis.
Damages Recoverable: A lawsuit can potentially provide a wider range of compensation than an insurance claim. This includes not only medical expenses and lost wages but also pain and suffering, emotional distress, and punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or reckless behavior.
Statute of Limitations: It’s important to be aware of the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit in your state. This is the legal deadline for bringing a case to court, which typically ranges from one to three years from the date of the accident.
Legal Representation: Navigating a lawsuit can be complex, so it’s advisable to seek legal representation. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you build a strong case, gather evidence, negotiate with the opposing party, and represent you in court.
Deciding Between an Insurance Claim and a Lawsuit: The decision to file an insurance claim, a lawsuit, or both depends on several factors, including the severity of the accident, the extent of injuries, the clarity of fault, and the insurance policy limits. In many cases, starting with an insurance claim is the most straightforward approach. However, if the settlement offered by the insurance company is insufficient to cover your losses, or if the other party’s negligence was particularly egregious, pursuing a lawsuit may be the best option.
Can I File a Lawsuit or Insurance Claim for a Motor Vehicle Accident?
Depending on the circumstances of your motor vehicle accident (MVA) you may be able to file a claim with the help of MVA lawyers College Park, MD motorists can rely on.
The aftermath of a car accident can be disorienting. One moment, you’re driving along minding your own business. The next moment, you are violently reminded of just how dangerous the act of driving truly is.
As a result of the disorienting nature of car accidents themselves, it is certainly understandable that a car accident victim’s first question may be:
“Do I call my attorney or my insurance company first?”
When accidents involve injuries, an individual’s first steps should always be to seek medical care. In the case of non-injurious fender benders, it may not be necessary to take any actions in the wake of an accident at all. If you do though, many people find that it is easier to do this with the help of MVA lawyers who are licensed to practice in College Park and throughout MD (or in the jurisdiction where your accident occurred) rather than try to do this on your own.
Filing a Lawsuit
If another driver was either partially or totally at fault for the fender bender and you sustained significant injury or property damage, it may benefit you to speak with an attorney about filing a personal injury lawsuit. You may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages as a result of the accident.
But if your fender bender was truly a minor occurrence and neither resulted in injury nor significant property damage, it may not be in your best interests to file a claim. Defendants are generally only held liable for harm done as a result of their negligent, reckless or intentional behavior. If no real harm occurred as a result of the accident, you may not have grounds for a solid claim. Discussing your situation with College Park, MD MVA lawyers may help you to determine the validity of your claim.
Filing an Insurance Claim
If your car has sustained minor damage as a result of a fender bender, it can be tempting to call your insurance company immediately. After all, you pay very good money to have insurance, so why shouldn’t your insurance company pay for the minor damage? It is certainly within your rights to call your insurance company but you may want to think twice before doing so.
Even if the fender bender was in no way your fault, reporting that an accident occurred may result in an automatic hike in your car insurance premiums. This hike may cost you far more money in the long-run than it will cost to fix the minor damage out of pocket. It is also worth examining your policy to determine whether any costs associated with the minor costs come close to your deductible. If you would have to pay the vast majority of the cost anyway, it may not benefit you to get your insurance company involved.
Even though you may not need lawyers to settle this kind of MVA, many College Park, MD accident victims recommend discussing an accident with a lawyer to learn your rights in advance of talking to insurance companies.
Additional Questions?
In regards to motor vehicle accidents of any kind, the old saying, “When in doubt, ask questions,” applies. Consulting with an attorney about your fender bender will typically not obligate you to any actions. However, asking any questions you may have about filing a suit or insurance claim will allow you to make informed decisions about these issues. Fender benders may be minor accidents, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that their aftermath is a situation easily dismissed. If anything about your accident makes you feel ill at ease or inspires a question, please consider speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney today.
For MVA lawyers College Park, MD accident victims and their families recommend with over 25 years of successfully defending the rights of injured people, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation with no obligation.
