Guide to Allstate Insurance Claims

If gratitude is your natural inclination, then the first thing you will feel after a car accident is relief that it was not worse than it was. Even if there were no injuries in your accident, then your good mood will eventually give way to financial stress. Not only will you have to repair your car and then just hope that the insurance settlement you get is enough to break even, but your insurance premiums will increase at least a little bit, even if you were only partially at fault for the accident. Filing an insurance claim is a tedious process; you must jump through so many hoops just to get a modest amount of money. Most people just sign the settlement offer letter, even if it is not enough to cover the money you spent on medical bills or vehicle repairs. You have a better chance of getting enough money from your Allstate claim to cover your accident-related financial losses if you take your time instead of rushing and if you work with an auto accident lawyer.

What to Do Before You Contact Allstate About Your Claim

The sooner you contact the insurance company to file your claim, the sooner you can get your settlement money. Don’t be in too much of a hurry, though. Get a police report even if the police do not stop by on their own initiative to investigate the accident; call the police or flag down a patrol car when one passes. Photograph the damage to your vehicle, and exchange contact information and insurance information with the other driver. Even if your injuries are minor, have a doctor examine them, and get a copy of the records from that doctor’s office visit; sometimes it is hard to tell how serious your injuries are immediately after the accident.

How Soon Should You File a Claim?

You can file an insurance claim on the same day as the accident as long as you have gathered the relevant information. Remember that your health is the most important thing, so contact a doctor or go to the emergency room first, and then contact the insurance company. The statute of limitations for car accident claims in New Jersey is two years, so you have more time than you think you have. If you think that the financial aspects of your claim will be complicated, contact a personal injury lawyer to represent you even before you open your claim.  Allstate’s claim phone number is 800-255-7828, or you can go through their website at https://www.allstate.com/claims/file-track.

What If Allstate Does Not Offer You a Big Enough Settlement?

Do not sign the insurance company’s settlement offer letter unless the amount it is offering is enough to cover all your accident-related financial losses. If you sign, you lose the right to increase the settlement amount on the claim or to file a lawsuit arising from the accident. If the settlement amount is insufficient, ask a lawyer to help you negotiate for a bigger settlement.

Contact Monaco Law About Car Accident Insurance Claims

Contact Monaco Law PC in Marlton, New Jersey to discuss your car accident case. Joseph Monaco is a New Jersey and Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer serving Atlantic County, Bucks County,  Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Chester County, Cumberland County, Delaware County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Ocean County, Salem County, Susquehanna County and all of New Jersey.

Source:

allstate.com/resources/car-insurance/how-to-file-a-car-insurance-claim