Car accidents always demand a heavy price, not just metaphorically but also from medical injuries to car damage; getting it back to its shape may cost you an arm and a leg. To prevent that, it is vital to have insurance to cover your expenses at a greater level.

About 6 million crashes are reported by police every year in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Approximately three million people are injured or killed in these car accidents, so many lawsuits and insurance claims occur yearly.

The following section describes the procedure to be followed for insurance after a Car accident:-

#1 Look for Any Injuries

• First, look if you have any injuries or not
• Then make sure that everyone around is okay or not
• If you’re injured, look for help around or call 911

#2 Call 911

Even if it is a minor accident, you must call the police at 911, and in some states, it is even required legally. The officers will fill out an accident report, documenting the scene. If the police don’t come to the scene of the accident at that time, you must go to the nearby police station and get a report filed yourself.

What To Do Before Approaching the Insurance Company?

#1 Documenting

It is important to document each step as you begin claiming insurance. You must get the other driver’s name, license plate number, insurance information, and phone number. You can only file a claim with their insurance company if you do this. Notify your insurance company as well. They can help you with the procedure and may provide some services to help you with your claim.

Make sure you call the police immediately after the accident. Then, when their report is completed, request a copy. It may take a few days, so make a note to call and visit your local police station to obtain a copy. Consult a doctor and have any injuries documented in your medical record. Document the accident thoroughly by photographing your vehicle from various angles, demonstrating the damage done to both cars to prove that the amount you claim is fair and just. If there was any witnesses to the car accident, take down their names and contact information.

#2 Report and begin settlement claim

You’ve started the process by filing a claim. You must notify your insurance company if the other driver doesn’t have insurance. Check that you have all the information you’ve gathered for your agent. They can assist you in filling out forms or advise you on getting the settlement you require. Because state laws differ, check with your insurance commissioner’s office to see if there are any additional steps you need to take to settle the claim.

#3 Check your mail

Following your claim submission, the insurance company will acknowledge by sending you a letter indicating that it has received your claim and will contact you. This is known as a “reservation of rights” letter. It only serves to notify you that the agency has received the claim, not that it is taking action. You should consult with a lawyer at that point. A lawyer can guide you through any issues that may arise and represent you in court if the claim proceeds that far.

#4 Continue to negotiate the settlement claim

The insurance company will issue a settlement check after calculating the value of your claim. If your claim is denied, or you believe the settlement amount is insufficient, you may be able to negotiate with the insurance company. You may appeal the company’s decision if you cannot reach an agreement. An appeal may necessitate additional examinations or the provision of additional information and evidence about the accident.

If you are injured, or your property is damaged, you should send a letter outlining your medical costs and out-of-pocket expenses. Include any income you may have lost as a result of the accident. The claims adjuster should reply to your assessment with their letter, or they may send one first.

They will frequently offer you less than you believe you are owed. That offer is expected as part of the process. It would be best if you don’t take it personally. You have two options: accepting the insurance company’s offer or continuing to bargain. If you can’t decide with the other party, you may need to file a lawsuit. Hopefully, this will be different.

Always remember that you’ll need patience and self-assurance to file and settle an auto accident claim is time-consuming. Seeing it as a successful settlement can take time, but it’s worth fighting for the money you’re owed.

#5 Insurance claim value calculation

Though calculating medical expenses and lost wages is usually relatively straightforward, putting a monetary value on the pain and suffering a person suffers due to their injury is more complicated. Insurance companies have developed formulas to calculate how much to pay the injured for non-monetary losses. First, the insurance claims analyst totals all of your medical expenses. If the injuries are minor, this total is usually multiplied by 1.5 or 2. (Depending on the situation’s intensity the multiplier typically ranges between 1.5 to 5, depending on the situation’s intensity). This calculation is used to specify the number of your special damages incurred with finite, measurable charges (as opposed to general damages, which are damages without explicit monetary values, such as emotional distress).

If the injuries are acute, the total may be multiplied by a higher number, such as five, if the injuries are severely incapacitating. After determining the number of special damages, the analyst sums the value of your lost wages to determine the amount of your settlement. You can then often negotiate a higher settlement with the insurance company.

Types of Insurance Claims

Insurance claims are of two types: first-party claims and third-party claims. A first-party claim is filed with your insurance company, whereas a third-party claim is filed with another person’s or business’s insurance provider. Most insurance companies provide coverage for those injured due to the insurance company’s actions.

Who is at fault will determine the type of claim you File in the accident, the nature of the accident, and the amount of insurance coverage available. For example, if you were driving in your car and had an accident, you should file a first-party claim with your auto insurance company.

If, on the other hand, a car hit you while crossing the street or you were in some other person’s car, you should file a third-party claim with the driver’s auto insurance provider. If someone else hits you, you will file a claim against their liability insurance. This is a third-party claim because you are the third party to the other driver and the insurance company concerned. The other party’s insurer will process the claim but don’t expect a quick payment. The insurer may want to investigate the accident to determine if their customer was at fault.

However, it is also recommended to notify your own insurance company. Suppose you were injured while shopping or eating at a restaurant. In that case, you could file a third-party personal injury claim with the business’s insurance company or land/property owner. These claims cover both bodily and property damage.

Common Reasons for Auto Claims Denial

The auto insurance claims process can be very stressful at times. Common reasons for claim denial include:

• The accident could have been avoided or prevented:

  The claim may be denied if the insurance company believes the accident could have been avoided, for example, by allowing an unlicensed driver to operate your vehicle.

• You should have filed your claim on time:

  Customers should file claims as soon as possible, according to insurance companies. And it’s prudent to do so before the evidence has become muddled, or the accident witnesses have vanished. States may impose strict deadlines for filing claims, ranging from one to twenty years.

• Delaying medical treatment:

  You may not know the full extent of your injuries immediately following an accident. However, if you delay treatment for injuries for an extended period of time, the insurance company may become suspicious of the claim, resulting in an investigation and, possibly, a denial.

Following an accident, it is critical to state the facts. If unsure about what happened, don’t speculate or accept blame at the scene. Don’t be too forthcoming; too much information may impact the outcome of your claim.

What To Do?

If someone has been seriously injured or it is unclear who is to blame, the process of filing a claim can be complicated. Depending on your residence, there may also be a liability time limit — known as a statute of limitations. Keep the following in mind when filing your auto insurance claim:

• Don’t wait any longer:

  Once you’re safely home, you can file a claim using an insurer’s online claims system, mobile app, or phone agents. It is preferable to begin at the earliest while you still remember the details of the accident clearly

• Understand what to expect:

  You must pay a deductible if you are at fault and file a claim with your insurer. If you file a claim against the other party’s insurance, you will not be required to pay a deductible.

• Notify your passengers:

  Passengers injured in a car accident can file claims with the driver’s insurance company or their own. Filing a claim through another driver’s insurance is also an option, depending on who is at fault.

No matter how thorough or fair, your claim is, the insurance company could try to avoid paying the money you think you are entitled to. This is because insurance companies want to turn a profit and avoid paying more than necessary. If you are doing everything accurately, try to feel free to ask for too much.

Although it might be stressful, settling a car accident claim involves negotiation. Even though these ideas do not cover every situation, they will give you enough of a head start to let the adjuster know that you have a general understanding of how the system works.

Support your claim with all of these facts.

Sources:

• https://uphelp.org/claim-guidance-publications/car-accident-claim-tips-a-practical-guide-to-auto-claims/
• https://www.findlaw.com/injury/accident-injury-law/insurance-claims-after-an-accident-the-basics.html
• https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/car-accident-insurance-claim/
• https://www.jeffjoneslawoffice.com/blog/2016/09/navigating-insurance-claims-after-a-car-accident/
• https://www.iii.org/press-release/knowing-what-to-do-after-an-auto-accident-saves-lives-makes-filing-a-claim-easier-the-iii-offers-tips-to-help-navigate-the-claims-process-051605
• https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-settle-a-car-accident-claim-4174365

Due to the rapid advancement of technology and the fast-paced lifestyle that people grow up in cities, the adoption of cars has been rising drastically in recent years. The number of driving licenses issued in 2020 was 228,687, up from 190,625 in 2010, according to the US Department of Transportation (DOT, 2021).

The relationship between the two factors is linear, so there are more people and vehicles on the road today than there were ten years ago.

Car accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, some of which can be controlled, such as speeding, tailgating, changing lanes while sleepy, or recklessly driving, and others which cannot, such as car failure, adverse weather, a lack of traffic signs, or poor road conditions.

However, the most common type of accident is a car crash, which might involve a single vehicle, several vehicles, a rollover, or rear-end or sideswipe incidents. Serious adverse effects like injuries, disabilities, and even death may result from this. Not to mention that both personal and social costs resulted from the loss of property and the damage to the car.

Distracted driving

The statistics on distracted driving are concerning, particularly given that, in most circumstances, it can be avoided almost entirely. According to experts, distracted driving poses a serious risk to public health in the US. Distracted driving causes slower reaction times, makes keeping a car in its lane challenging, and causes catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries and fatalities. Every time a driver uses a cell phone while operating a vehicle, we are all in danger.

The NHTSA estimates that at any given point during the day, more than 850,000 drivers in the United States are texting or otherwise using cellphones while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, despite the apparent risks of texting and despite state laws (including in Pennsylvania) making it unlawful. These drivers are much more likely than other drivers to be involved in an accident.

Drivers who take their eyes off the road are distracted visually.

Manual: When drivers remove their hands from the steering wheels, manual distractions happen.

Cognitive: Drivers who allow their minds to roam or become concerned with something other than driving are distracted cognitively.

Some types of driving distractions—which are extremely risky—involve two, three, or even all three distractions. For instance, someone who sends texts while driving is probably doing so while looking at their phone (a visual distraction), using the keypad or screen (a physical distraction), and thinking about what to text (a cognitive distraction).

According to studies, sending or reading a text message only takes a few seconds under normal circumstances, but at 55 mph, it’s like driving a football field’s length while keeping your eyes closed.

• Six times more deadly than drunk driving is texting and driving.
• Cell phone use while driving reduces brain activity linked with driving by 37%.
• Driving while texting impairs one’s physical and mental capacity to steer and respond to traffic situations. This is the exact combination for a fatal collision at the correct speed.

Drunk and drugged driving

According to Waylen and McKenna (2008), driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol increases the likelihood of an accident three times while lowering the driver’s awareness, reflexes, and attention. Violent car crashes are often dangerously caused by drunk or drugged driving. Alcohol affects all aspects of brain activity, including thinking, judgment, and muscular control. This increases the hazard of drinking and driving.

For instance, it makes it more difficult for the driver to respond to the road and the surroundings of their car. The drunk driver’s failure to take any precautions to prevent or decrease the collision’s severity might result in very violent collisions.

In Missouri, driving while intoxicated is prohibited. This includes operating a vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol or other drugs like marijuana or painkillers.
Families are devastated by these deaths. Children are deprived of having parents. Parents are deprived of their kids as a result.

Speeding

Speed-related crashes cost Americans $40.4 billion each year, according to Insurance Information Institute, 2019.

According to the US Department of Transportation,2020 speeding was the primary factor in 31% of fatal motorcycle accidents, 18% of fatal automobile crashes, 14% of fatal light-truck crashes, and 7% of fatal large-truck crashes in 2018

Speeding killed 10,111 people in the US in 2016, accounting for more than a quarter (27%) of all traffic fatalities, according to NHTSA, 2018.
Speed was a factor in 31% of US teen driver fatalities, according to NHTSA, 2018

The NHTSA surveyed speeding in March 2018 and found that people casually exceeding the speed limit is a significant issue on American highways. A significant fraction of fatal crashes is caused by speeding. In reality, speeding drivers were to blame for 26% of all fatal accidents in a recent year, which cost 13,000 lives.

The chance of the driver and passengers of a car dying in a collision doubles every 10 miles per hour, exceeding the speed limit of 50 miles per hour. While exceeding the speed limit worsens incidents on highways, 86 percent of fatal speeding-related accidents happened off interstate highways, according to the NHTSA report.

In other words, speeding is unsafe not only on highways but also very risky on back roads, city streets, and other roadways—and it’s virtually always a sign of carelessness.

Speed calls for quicker reaction times. It would help if you had faster reaction times at higher rates of speed in case something happens or immediate action is required to prevent a crash. Due to unforeseen risks, several highways have posted lower speed restrictions than you would expect. If you decide to drive quickly on those roads, you can approach the dangers too quickly and have an accident.

The capacity of the driver to handle curves and other road hazards is reduced by speeding. When you are speeding, it may be challenging to react to curves in the road and keep your car in the right lane. Unfortunately, other drivers might not know how you intend to move when your car slides toward oncoming traffic.

High speeds need extra stopping space. If you choose to drive too fast, you will need extra time to stop your car if a ball bounces out into the road and is followed by a youngster. Additionally, you might require more space to stop if an animal jumps into the road or another car suddenly applies the brakes in front of you.

An accident’s force is increased by speeding. As you speed up after an accident, more force is transferred to your car and the other driver’s car. You can experience more force in an accident caused by speeding, which could worsen your injuries or raise your risk of suffering a significant injury or passing away.

Reckless driving & road rage

Over one-third of all traffic accidents is the result of tailgating. According to Safe Motorist (2019), aggressive driving is to blame for 66% of traffic fatalities. A firearm is used in 37% of incidences of aggressive driving. Drivers between the ages of 19 and 39 who were men and younger had a much higher likelihood of acting aggressively, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (2016).

In response to aggressive actions like blowing horns, making offensive gestures, or tailgating, 50% of drivers also admit to acting aggressively.

In a 2020 survey of US drivers 16 and older, it was discovered that 45% of participants admitted to exceeding the posted speed limit on a freeway by at least 15 mph in the previous 30 days, along with 23% of those who drove through a stop sign and 21% of those who tailgated or changed lanes suddenly according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (2021).

An inherent danger of accidents and injury exists when operating a motor vehicle or riding in one. However, when other drivers on the road behave recklessly, these dangers considerably rise. While some drivers make a mistake, others may choose to drive recklessly on purpose. All accident victims have the right to seek compensation for their damages from a driver who causes the collision on purpose.

Most drivers will experience driver impatience at some point in their lives. You can become impatient with slow cars and traffic if you’re rushing or running behind schedule. You should let your impatience lead you to avoid driving carelessly or aggressively.

Drivers who allow their emotions to affect their judgment can cause devastating and tragic accidents. One of the most frequent reasons for auto accidents is aggressive driving. The three most common aggressive driving modes are tailgating, reckless driving, and road rage.

Poor weather

According to NHSTA, in 2019, 17% of all vehicle crashes occurred during winter.

FHWA (2019) reports reveal that freeway speeds are reduced by 3% to 13% in light snow and 5% to 40% in heavy snow. Each year, 24% of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement, and 15% during snowfall or sleet. Weather-related road conditions can significantly impact what happens in car accidents. In reality, it ranks among the significant factors in auto accidents.

If poor driving conditions result in an accident, you could be interested in financial compensation. Mother Nature cannot be sued, but a driver who rear-ends someone in a thick fog, for example, is still liable for the accident. All drivers must use greater caution while driving in adverse weather to prevent accidents.

Driving should be done with prudence in lousy weather. In springtime, a safe road to travel at 60 mph may become hazardous at 30 mph during a heavy downpour.

Due to drivers’ frequently limited visibility, ice may pose even more significant risks than snow. Black ice, a condition where a road appears wet but is frozen, is responsible for some of the worst accidents on local roadways.

It’s scary, as anyone who has ever struck a patch of black ice can testify. A driver can lose control of a car at any speed. The issue to consider when black ice is a factor in a car accident is if the driver was entirely ignorant of the risk posed by icy roads and was operating his vehicle as if it were only a little bit wet. Ice is a problem whenever it is below freezing, and the roadways are wet. In those circumstances, failing to drive with utmost caution may constitute negligence.

Even if you drive carefully, accidents can still happen. However, avoiding the top 5 accident causes can significantly lower your risk of getting into one.