How to Deal With an Insurance Company After a Car Accident in Louisiana

by Peyton P. Murphy on May. 23, 2017

Accident & Injury Car Accident Accident & Injury  Personal Injury 

Summary: The time following a motor vehicle accident is stressful. No one expects to be in a crash especially if the negligence of another distracted or reckless.

The time following a motor vehicle accident is stressful. No one expects to be in a crash especially if the negligence of another distracted or reckless driver was the cause of the car accident. Coping with the aftermath is draining when there are serious injuries or a vehicle needs substantial repairs.Dealing with your insurance company can add to the strain. There are steps to take, however, that will ease the process. The following tips will help in navigating through the insurance claims process.

At the Scene of the Accident

Immediately following an accident, call for medical assistance, if there are any injuries. Also, contact police to report the accident. An investigating officer will look for the cause of the accident and write an accident report. Cooperate and make sure to let police know if concerns exist regarding impaired or distracted driving.

Inform your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible to get the claims process started. Explain everything that happened, so that your insurance agent has all of the facts.

Next Steps

Document everything related to the accident, including damage to the vehicle and any injuries. Photographs of vehicle damage, receipts and copies of medical records related to the treatment received after the accident will provide evidence of damage to the vehicle and any injuries sustained.

In addition, whenever meal or lodging expenses are incurred because of the accident, keep documentation related to those expenses. For instance, if an accident leaves a motorist stranded in another state while waiting on repairs, meal and lodging costs might be covered.

Do not allow your insurance company to record telephone conversations and do not agree to a settlement before fully understanding all available remedies. An insurance appraiser will provide estimates for your car. Sometimes the estimate is a low-ball valuation. Do your homework and find information about what the value of similar vehicles (make, model and condition) before accepting an offer.

When You Have Problems With an Insurance Company

Even long-time customers of insurance companies may receive low settlement offers. Ultimately, insurance companies seek profits and mak claims decisions based on their bottom line. As a result, initial offers are often lower than expected.

Knowing the do's and don'ts of what to do after an auto accident is important to protect your rights to fair compensation. Ultimately, if negotiations with an insurance company stall or grow increasingly difficult, contact an experienced and aggressive attorney who can fight to ensure you receive adequate compensation for damage to your vehicle as well as your medical costs, lost wages, and your pain and suffering. The days following a crash are difficult enough and a skilled advocate can ease the insurance claim negotiation process.

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