It’s estimated that the average American will get into at least four car accidents in their lifetime. If you’ve been in a car accident in New Bedford, MA, you have a right to expect compensation from the at-fault driver. They can pay for the damages from their own pocket or you can file a car accident claim from their insurer. If you file a claim against their insurer, you can pursue it on your own or you can hire a New Bedford car accident lawyer near you.
How to Successfully File a Property Damage Claim in a Car Accident
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you have the right to file for reimbursement of damaged property and any lost items. Property damage claims include:
- Car repair costs
- If it’s a total loss, the fair market value of your car
- The cost of renting a car while your car is getting repaired
- The cost of any upgrades you made to your car such a better stereo system
You can also make a claim for lost personal items such as:
- Laptops
- Mobile phones
- prescription or sunglasses
- Jewelry
The above list is not limited to only the items mentioned; if you can prove your lost belongings were in the car at the time of the accident, then you can claim to be reimbursed.
Building a Successful Car Accident Claim
A successful car accident claim starts at the accident scene. This means that you need to collect as much evidence and information about the accident while it’s still fresh. Below are some of the steps you should take:
1. Call the Police
Call 911 and report the accident. If the accident was a minor one and no one was injured, the police may not be dispatched. It’s still a good idea to call the police even if no one was injured. They will write up a police report which you can use to solidify your claim against the insurance company. The police will speak with you, witnesses, and the other driver in order to find out what happened. They might also take pictures and may also issue citations to the at-fault driver.
2. Gather Information
Below is a list of information you should collect:
- License number make and model of the other driver’s car
- The other driver’s contact information
- Any statements made by the other driver
- The other driver’s insurance company information
- Weather condition
- Time and date of the accident
3. Collect Evidence
Take as many photos and videos of the accident scene. Things you should take note of include:
- Damaged property at the accident scene
- The area around the accident
- The position of the cars
You should also write down a list of all personal items that were destroyed as a result of the accident. You can back this information by taking pictures of the damaged items.
How to Deal with Your Insurance Company
Most insurers pay for property damage claims. However, since Massachusetts is a no-fault state, no-fault insurance will not cover your car repairs. You might have to make a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company or pay for it using your collision cover.
Your insurer will inspect the extent of your car damage and then get it repaired by a car repair shop that has a business agreement with them. This way, you won’t have to shop around for an estimate from car repair shops.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You should always notify your insurer of any accidents you are involved in regardless of how minor it was or the kind of agreement you have with the at-fault driver. It’s very common for drivers to not see the need to notify their insurer over minor accidents such as a fender bender.
Contact the At-Fault Driver’s Insurer
Once you notify the other driver’s insurance company about your intent to file a property claim, a claims adjuster will be assigned to you. You will be given two claim numbers; a property claim number and an injury claim number if you filed for one. Unlike injury claims, property claims are resolved much quicker.
When You Need to Take Your Property Claim to Court
There are situations where the insurance company might deny your claim or the other driver might not be insured. In such a case you might need to file a smalls claims lawsuit against the other driver. If they are insured, their insurer will send their lawyer because they have a “duty to defend”.
The good news is that you do not need a car accident lawyer in New Bedford for small claims court. However, it doesn’t hurt to contact a good New Bedford car accident lawyer before deciding to represent yourself.
Get your case evaluated for free at Kevin P Landry Law Offices today. Contact us today at 508-999-0800 to schedule your free initial consultation.
