When you’ve gone through the trauma of a car accident, even a minor one, thinking about claiming can be quite overwhelming. However, it’s necessary to compensate for your losses, no matter how small. Here’s a brief guide on what to expect when you need to submit a claim for a car accident.
1. Submit a personal injury claim form
As soon as the accident takes place, the clock is ticking to make a claim. Within three months (unless there are extenuating circumstances), you’ll need to have gathered all your evidence and submit a personal injury claim form to cover losses such as medical costs, pain and suffering, and lost earnings.
Having a seasoned attorney who is experienced with personal injury law and car accidents can improve the chances of your claim being a success. If you want a legal expert on your case, you can find a car accident lawyer here!Â
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2. The claim will be reviewed
As soon as your claim is submitted, it becomes a waiting game as the insurer reviews your claim. While your claim is being reviewed, they need to tell you the information they require, estimate how long it will take to approve or reject the claim, and if a loss assessor will be appointed to your case.
3. Your insurer will accept or reject your claim
Different circumstances may determine how long it takes for your insurer to accept or deny your claim, but there are strict time frames that they need to adhere to. Once the insurer has received your claim, they cannot sit on the information but are legally required to move the claim forward fairly. Depending on your location and laws subject to change, here are the different timelines you might expect:Â
Claim to first decision (10 business days)
Given that everything is in order, insurers need to decide during this period whether to accept the claim, whether they need more information, or whether to investigate.Â
No exceptional circumstances (up to four months)
If the insurer has all the information it needs, it must finalize whether to accept or reject the claim within four months of receiving it.
Exceptional circumstances (up to 12 months)
Should the case involve exceptional circumstances, the insurer may take longer than four months to approve or deny your claim. Some exceptional circumstances may include:Â
- You ask for the claim to be delayed.
- The insurer has reasonable suspicions of fraud.
- A fraud has been committed.
- The insurer has struggled to communicate with you by no fault of their own.
- You do not communicate or provide the necessary documents and information.
Final thoughts
With the help of this guide, you should have a basic understanding of what to prepare before you start the claiming process and what to expect when you make a claim for a car accident. While it is possible to navigate your claim without the help of a lawyer, get a good, experienced car accident lawyer to back your case.
