Filing for Insurance Claims: Understanding the Time Frames
One of my friends got into an accident and was asking how long uh they need to file a claim because they’re pretty unsure if ah it’s worth it given the situation. Apart from that rationale, I also consider it as a backup, and kind of started to have a lot of information because I got extensive. I began searching about especially what states are letting, how long you have in order to submit a claim.
Taking the Police’s Help: Reporting an Accident and Calling the Police
Most insurance companies request two things, and there are two requirements that you should comply with directly. One, if it is an accident having a loss of more than $1,000 or an injury or death to an individual, in almost all states as a general rule, you need to contact the authorities. In this case, a family member of the subject was able to get away without having the police come out. They instructed them to call the police and to explain the situation. A report was created from the call such the police made.
Insurance Claims and Control of Police Reports
Well, it was in Michigan and I suppose that was the weird part because I didn’t expect them to get hold of the police and just like other things.
That is, however, not always the case. They will up most of the times, and someone is likely to get a ticket or it will all be captured in some police report. If you choose to pursue a claim further, a police report is critical as it tells the nature of events that transpired.
How important is it to take photos after an accident?
I do advise, however, to take pictures, particularly of the other vehicle, your own car, and their license plates and other relevant information. This will come in handy if one wants to go back and reclaim later on. Insurance companies like to be in the loop.
Insurance companies, when to contact them and why
Insurance technically makes it mandatory to put in a claim if one has had a claim but this is not the advice that an agent will readily provide you with. Most of the times, their agents advise the opposite since the insurance company wishes to be made aware of any possible claims at the earliest. Yes, you have time, several years based on the state, but it is always advisable to inform them of any possibilities.
How delayed submission can cause risk in claims
It is true that you have time but it is also true that time is of the essence in such matters. Insurance firm have come across fraud cases over a long period and so they may refuse payment on a claim if enough time has lapsed.
The company may dispatch an inspector and investigate the claim if you were hit and report damages two or three years later. The reason why police reports and photographs are crucial, is because they are proof in case you have to file the claim later.
Filing Through the Other Driver’s Insurance
If you are not liable, then you can approach the other driver’s insurance without going through your own. Your insurer may, in some instances, be informed, but usually, the other insurance company will take care of it because they are liable for the damages. But some companies tend to create hailstorms and you may be forced to seek legal counsel or go to small claims court if they do not compensate appropriately.
How Your Insurance Company Can Help to Handle Claims
In these kinds of scenarios, the insurance company comes in and argues the case on your behalf in order to get the claim settled. As soon as the insurance firm becomes involved, it usually quickens the procedure.
General Clauses of Claim Limits in every State
Mark, let’s start with how long a person takes to claim for each individual state. I will also provide a link to this video in the description for reference. Regardless of how late the claim is made, specifics are provided that are essential to remember when filing a claim even after a year or two.
Filing Deadline States
Let’s first provide a list of states based on the period allowed for the filing. In Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, as well as Tennessee, the period of filing a claim is one year. Two years is the period provided for Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia states.
Three-Year Filing Deadline States
In three-year states such as Arkansas, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin as well as Washington DC, three years is the period given within. Florida, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming are four-year states although it should be remembered that Florida laws have been altered so it is best to check the laws.
Four-Year, Five-Year and Six-Year Filing Deadline States
Missouri has a five year deadline, while Maine and Minnesota have a six year one, the longest counties in which a claim may be submitted. But some states have certain specifications. Florida, for instance, in the past time did not permit claimants to recover fees of a lawyer, which resulted in the majority not bringing small claims.
Assessing the Damages, Lost Earnings, and the Claims to be Made.
Knowing the extent of damage done to property, the amount that will be paid to you as compensation, and the period available for bringing claims is crucial.
If the event of the accident required you to take time off work, it is possible for you to make a lost wages claim. Even if one doesn’t see it through immediately, making an early request for filing the claim might be useful as well.
Effects of Claiming Insurance on Insurance Rates
To put matters into perspective, filing a claim even when it was not your fault can increase your rates by about 5-10% easily, this is subject to the laws of the state of the claimant of course. This, however, is possible without even any at-fault, hence, it is a good idea to be prepared before anything happens.
At What Stage Should One Engage an Attorney in the Insurance Claims Process
As it might be a legal requirement in certain circumstances, obtaining the services of an attorney when the damages go beyond your insurance limits would be necessary. In circumstances where the party at-fault does not have enough insurance or there is none at all, it would be better to take it to court.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts on the Insurance Claims Process
I want to believe this article was beneficial to people as well as not too overwhelming. Share low down in the comment section if you have issues of your insurance or even notice any changes. Car4Save’s Muhammad Ismail, thank you for watching and see you in the next article.
