Making Car Accident Claims With Insurance Companies
Who is the Adjuster?
An insurance adjuster is a person an insurance company assigns after a wreck to evaluate all or part of your claim. In most Texas car accident claims, the auto insurance company assigns one adjuster to handle property damage and another to handle the bodily injury claim. This is true for both claims you make against the other driver’s insurance company and your own insurance company.
Variances Due to Company Size and Location
Larger auto insurance companies have local adjusters and lawyers who work exclusively for them, known as “captive counsel.” These people work for the company and are paid to minimize the value of your car accident claim, which reduces the amount the company pays out. Smaller and medium-sized insurance companies often are not large enough to have an adjuster in every city or a law firm on the payroll in every town. Smaller and mid-sized insurance companies handle claims in a number of ways, from in-house adjusters to contracting out to independent claims adjusting companies. Independent claims adjusters can often be hard to reach and difficult to deal with. That’s why it helps to have a Houston car accident claims lawyer who knows the insurance company handling your claim and how it operates.
How to File Injury Claims Against Auto Insurance Companies
If someone else caused your automobile accident in Texas, you can file a claim by finding the other driver’s insurance company’s phone number on the police report and calling to set up a claim. You can typically find this information on the driver’s insurance declarations page. You can also find it on the company’s website. Some insurance companies also allow you to file a claim online through various apps. You will need to gather documentation of your injuries and losses and provide it to your lawyer and/or the insurance company.
They generally will not pay your medical bills as you are treating but rather force you to wait until the end to submit everything. You must find a way to pay for the medical care you need until you are released from care and the insurance company is ready to evaluate it and offer a settlement. You will need to prepare a demand at that time.
Insurance companies count on the fact that many people will stop seeking the care they need because of the upfront out-of-pocket costs. You can prevent this by hiring a car accident claims lawyer who will issue a letter of protection so you can get the medical care you need without paying as you go.
What Tactics Will The Insurance Adjuster Use?
In our experience, many auto insurance companies of all sizes like to switch adjusters around, forcing claimants to repeat themselves until they get frustrated and harm their own case. This is a common tactic used by many insurance companies. However, not all use the same tactics. Some insurance companies use claims-adjusting software, such as the infamous Colossus program, to devalue your car accident claim. Others try to spring the early-offer trap on you. Below are links to specific pages offering tips on dealing with some of the different auto insurance carriers when bringing an injury claim against an auto insurance company:
- Allstate Insurance Claims
- Farmers Insurance Claims
- Fred Loya Insurance Claims
- GEICO Claims
- The General Insurance Claims
- Germania Claims
- Liberty Mutual Insurance Claims
- Mercury Insurance Claims
- Mid-Century Insurance Claims
- Nationwide Insurance Claims
- Progressive Auto Insurance Claims
- Rodney D. Young Insurance Claims
- Safe Auto Insurance Claims
- Safeco Insurance Claims
- State Farm Insurance Claims
- Texas Farm Bureau Claims
- USAA PIP Insurance Claims
- 21st Century Insurance Claims
It helps to be familiar with the company and its specific claims-adjusting tactics before you try to pursue a car accident claim.
Unique Issues in Claims
There are many ways a car wreck can happen. Below, you can find more information on specific types of car accident claims:
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Broadside Collisions
- Single Car Accidents
- Head-on Collisions
- Speeding
- Intersection Collisions
- Running Stop Signs & Lights
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Passenger Claims
- Hit and Run Accidents
- Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road
- Sideswipe Accidents
- Rear-End Accidents
- Malfunctioning Traffic Signal Lights
- Unsafe Lane Change
- Vehicle Defects
- Weather Conditions
- Road Rage
- Multi-Vehicle Crashes
- Rollover Accidents
- Left-Turn Accidents
- Highway Accidents
Keep in mind that automobile accidents can happen for many reasons. An automobile collision can have more than one cause. Juries are often asked to sort out multiple causes and apportion liability among two or more drivers.
Other Resource Links
- How to obtain the medical care you need after a car accident.
- What should I bring to the meeting with my accident attorney?
- Is a verbal release given to an auto insurance adjuster binding?
- What is a Stowers demand letter?
- What is Colossus?
- What is the difference between a first-party and a third-party insurance claim?
- Texas Police Officer Crash Report Codes PDF
- What if I am sued over a car accident?
- Will my insurance rates go up if I file a claim?
- How long does a car accident settlement take in Houston?
- Why did my car insurance go up without an accident?
- What is covered by the Texas liability auto insurance policy?
- Understanding auto policy exclusions.
- What is personal injury protection?
- Will auto liability insurance cover intentional acts?
- What is a diminished value claim?
Talk to a Car Accident Claims Lawyer at No Cost
If you were injured in an accident, you would be wise to get a free consultation with a car accident claims lawyer about your legal options. At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., our car accident claims attorneys handle these cases every day. We offer a 100% free consultation, and you are under no obligation to hire us if you decide to handle the case yourself. Believe it or not, sometimes we even advise clients to handle simple claims without an attorney. Call (713) 932-0777 today.
FAQ's
Who is the insurance adjuster, and what do they do?
An adjuster is the person the insurance company assigns after a wreck to evaluate your claim. Most Texas auto insurers assign one adjuster for property damage and a separate one for the bodily injury claim — and this applies whether you’re dealing with the other driver’s insurer or your own.
How do I file a claim against the other driver's insurance company?
Locate the other driver’s insurance company from the police report (or their declarations page/website) and call to open a claim. Some insurers also let you file online through an app. You’ll need to gather documentation of your injuries and losses to submit to the insurer and/or your attorney.
Will the insurance company pay my medical bills as I'm treating?
Generally, no — insurers typically wait until you finish treatment before evaluating the claim and making an offer, forcing you to cover costs out of pocket in the meantime. A car accident lawyer can help by issuing a letter of protection, letting you get needed care without paying up front.
What tactics do insurance adjusters use to reduce a claim's value?
Common tactics include rotating adjusters so you have to repeatedly re-explain your case, using claims-adjusting software like Colossus to devalue claims, and offering an “early offer” before you know the full extent of your damages.
Do insurance company tactics vary by company size?
Yes. Larger insurers often have local “captive counsel” — in-house adjusters and lawyers whose job is to minimize payouts. Smaller and mid-sized insurers may rely on in-house adjusters or independent claims-adjusting companies, which can be harder to reach and deal with.
