It’s important to tell your car insurance company about a crash as soon as you can. If you don’t report the accident to your insurer in a timely manner, seeking out compensation could be more difficult later. If you need help with the claims process or plan to sue for damages, a Corpus Christi, Texas car accident lawyer from our firm may be able to help.
Do I Need to Report the Accident Right Away?
You should report the accident as soon as you can. If you can do it within 24 hours of the crash, that’s usually more than sufficient. Waiting too long can cause complications and make it harder to claim the kind of compensation that you deserve later on.
What Details Should I Include When I Report the Accident?
It’s a good idea to give your insurance company as much information as possible. You should be ready to relay details like:
- The date and time of the accident
- Where the crash occurred
- If anyone was hurt in the crash
- If police came out to the scene and made a report
- The number of the police report
- Any information about the other driver or drivers involved and their insurers
Be truthful when you talk to your insurance company, but try not to talk more than you have to. You should also avoid saying anything that could be construed as you taking any blame for the crash.
What Happens If I Don’t Report the Accident?
For one thing, if you never report the accident, you’ll never be able to claim any compensation from your own policy or the insurance company for another driver. If you report the accident, but you do it late, you could run into some problems. Your claim could take longer to process. It could also be outright denied if your insurance company thinks that you were hurt sometime after the accident and not in the crash itself.
Do I Need a Lawyer’s Help?
A lawyer can help you if you make an insurance claim and get denied or get offered far less money than you would need to be made whole after a crash. An attorney can help with first-party claims, which are claims made with your own insurance company, and third-party claims, claims you make against another driver who you blame for the accident.
Don’t just accept the first settlement offer you get. Talk to a lawyer and make sure that you are getting a fair amount. If you have more expenses than expected after you have already settled, you cannot go back and ask the insurance company for more money.
Talk to an Attorney Today
If you have any questions about how you can claim compensation after a car accident, contact Sahadi Legal Group. We can schedule a case consultation and tell you more about what our experienced team of personal injury attorneys can do to help with your case.
