Auto Accident Payment Recovery

Auto Accident Claims Adjusters

Your car insurance company will assign your claim to an auto claims adjuster. The accident claims adjuster will examine your car or truck. He might even take photos of the vehicle. It is good advice for you to document auto accident damage as well; for example, take at least four to eight photos of your damaged vehicle yourself.

Should the claims adjuster declare your auto to be a total loss, your car insurance company must notify you of this determination generally within seven days. The insurance company is responsible by state laws to reimburse you in an amount that is equal to the fair market value of your auto.

In the event that your vehicle is stolen, your insurance claims adjuster will arrive at a fair market value for your auto. You can ask the claims adjuster for the vehicles that they used to determine your auto’s fair market value. The insurance company will issue you a check to cover the fair market value of your stolen auto.

Regarding auto repairs, the claims adjuster will either ask you to visit an auto repair shop that the insurance company regularly works with or they will direct you to take your auto to your own repair shop. You must notify your claims adjuster if the auto shop discovers hidden damages to the vehicle (i.e. damages the claims adjuster did not previously uncover).

Keep copies of all auto repair bills. You will need these for auto accident payment recovery.

Auto Insurance Deductions and Payments

Typically, you should receive a check that covers the auto accident (or theft) repairs or damages within 10 business days of receiving the claims adjuster’s final decision (i.e. salvage, repairable). You are responsible for the deductible that is affixed to your car insurance policy.

For example, if your policy has a $250 deductible and the total amount of reimbursable damages that your auto suffered is assessed at $5,000, the insurance company will cut you a check for $4,750.

Insurance companies are permitted to deduct the costs of general wear and tear and unrepaired auto damages (that occurred prior to the accident) from the amount that they owe you. States generally only permit insurance companies to deduct up to $500 for general wear and tear.

In some states like Illinois, if you provide a receipt that proves you purchased or leased another vehicle within 30 days of your insurance company coming to terms with you on the value of your auto, the insurance company must pay the sales tax on the newly purchased or leased vehicle.

Auto Accident Medical Payments

Additional payments that you are entitled to receive from your insurance company include medical expenses. Refer to your auto insurance policy to locate the specific amount of medical or bodily injury coverage that you have.

Before your car insurance company will write you a check to cover medical expenses related to the car collision you will need to visit your physician. Ensure that you get a copy of your doctor’s medical report that details the personal injuries you suffered as a result of the accident.

Keep copies of all medical bills, including expenses for check-ups. Your insurance company might ask you to provide details and dated receipts for medical care that you received.