Texas Car Accident Claim Process
From minor fender-benders in slow traffic to catastrophic collisions at highway speeds, virtually any car accident in Texas that results in property damage or personal injury will necessitate filing an insurance claim. Most of the time, you will file a claim against the insurance of someone else involved in your wreck. Still, even if you are filing a claim under your own insurance policy, there is an unfortunately good chance that the insurer(s) you are dealing with will prioritize their best interests over your own.
Because of that, it can be important for you to have at least a broad understanding of the Texas car accident claim process. Anyone with further questions about how this process works should schedule a consultation with an experienced car wreck attorney.
When Should I File a Claim After a Car Crash?
While different car insurance policies and companies may impose different strict filing deadlines on policyholders, the best course of action in almost every situation is to file an insurance claim after a car accident in Texas as soon as possible. Waiting even a few weeks after a wreck to begin this process increases the chances of the insurance company rejecting your claim immediately. This is because, by their reasoning, if you took that long to tell them about your accident, the accident must not have been bad enough for you to need any payment for related losses.
What Evidence Should I Collect Before Filing a Claim?
However, just because you should file an insurance claim quickly after a car crash in Texas does not mean you should start this process immediately. To begin with, you should always prioritize getting necessary medical care for any injuries you sustained through your wreck. This is not just to minimize the long-term physical harm from the incident, but also to make sure you have thorough medical documentation of your records, which you can present to the insurance company later on.
Other important pieces of information you should have on hand before starting the car accident claim process in Texas include:
- Photos of the accident scene
- Photos of all property damage or injuries you sustained
- Copies of dashboard or surveillance camera footage showing the crash as it happened, if available
- Contact information for eyewitnesses to the crash
- Pay stubs, repair bills, and other evidence needed to establish financial losses caused by the crash
A qualified legal professional could help with tracking down key evidence and incorporating it efficiently into a comprehensive claim.
What Will the Insurance Company Do in Response to a Claim?
Once you file a car accident claim, or sometimes even before you file, an adjuster from the insurance company will call you to:
- Discuss the accident
- Ask you questions about what happened
- Try to figure out what losses you have suffered that the insurance company will have to cover
You should always be honest with adjusters when speaking to them, but at the same time, do not volunteer extra information or speculate about things that cannot be objectively proven, as that could end up keeping you from getting paid what you deserve.
What Happens If My Texas Car Accident Claim Is Denied?
If an insurance company rejects your Texas car accident claim even if you follow all the necessary steps in the process, you are not out of options. With help from a skilled attorney, you could contest your claim denial and demand the compensation you need. Call today to discuss your options.