There’s no other way to put it – getting into a car accident is a horrible experience. Anyone that has ever been involved a collision can attest to this fact. The only silver lining (if one can put it this way) is that financially speaking, a policyholder who gets into a wreck should be taken care of. This is the reason, after all, why we carry car insurance in the first place. We expect the insurance company to write a check for the damages done, so we then can go on with our lives.
But what if the insurance company is uncooperative? What if you don’t see eye-to-eye with the insurer and you cannot agree with the amount of the settlement offered? How do you handle this situation? First of all, you do have options. There are paths that you can take that may result in getting the settlement that you deserve.
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Be Prepared To Support Your Case
Gather all the necessary documentation in order to support your argument. Prepare a detailed description of the accident, the damages, names and contact information of all the parties involved. Get a second opinion from a mechanic and/or doctor that you trust. It is advisable that you type of all this information into a document so that you can easily hand this over to the insurance company. It will make the process smoother and will help your case.
Contact Your Insurance Company
At this point it is probably best to speak directly with the claims department. Let them know that you are unsatisfied with the settlement and provide the reasons why. Many insurance companies also have a customer service department as well. Once you have contacted the insurer, see what next steps there are going to take to satisfy this issue.
Enlist The Aid Of An Independent Arbitrator
If the insurance company is not cooperating as you would like, you may seek the help of an independent third party. An arbitrator can help determine if the settlement offer is fair. There may be arbitration services that your insurance company usually works with (examine your policy to see who this) or you can find an arbitrator on your own. The American Arbitration Association is a good place to start. Start by going to their website at http://www.adr.org/.
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Contact Your State Insurance Department
Another worthwhile option is to consult your state insurance department. Be prepared to give all the facts and figures relating to the case (if you have followed the first step this will already be ready to go) and why you feel this case isn’t being properly handled. A representative from the department will investigate.
Consult An Attorney
When all other avenues have been exhausted, it may be time to get a lawyer. Seek an attorney who specializes in auto insurance claims. There are many qualified lawyers out there who can deliver the settlement that you feel you deserve. Be sure to work out a fee structure that you both agree upon first.
Lastly, it’s important to remember that if you don’t agree with the level of compensation being offered by the insurance company, you can do something about it. You don’t have to simply accept the settlement that is being offered to you. Follow the steps above and perhaps you can get the settlement you deserve.
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