When you have been in a car accident, you will likely need to work with an insurance company to get reimbursed for any damage to your vehicle or injury to you. While it seems like a straightforward process, haggling with an insurance company for reimbursement can be stressful and time consuming.
Progressive is one of the largest car insurance providers, and while that makes filing claims easy, it is not always easy to resolve those claims. Car insurance companies often try to draw out claims, making them more complicated in the process.
When you work with an auto accident lawyer experienced in Progressive accident settlements, you can streamline the claims process and get quicker results. An attorney can help make sure you have a strong case for damages and get you the compensation to which you are entitled.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Austin?
There are several things you should do after a car accident to ensure that you have all the necessary information to strengthen your claim. These include:
- Pulling over safely
- Checking for injuries
- Not admitting fault at the scene of the accident
- Gathering contact information for other drivers and witnesses
- Taking photos to document any damage to the vehicle
- Filing a police report
- Opening a claim with your insurance provider
If you or anyone at the scene of the accident is injured, you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Only when everyone is safe and accounted for should you collect the rest of the information needed.
When asking for contact information from other drivers and witnesses, be sure to get their names, phone numbers, driver’s license information, and insurance information. If a police officer comes to the scene of the accident, they may also take statements from anyone who saw or was involved in the accident.
Whether you need medical attention immediately or several days or weeks after the accident, be sure to keep copies of any receipts or documentation related to your treatment. All of this information may be vital to strengthening your claim and getting you the compensation you deserve.
How Do You Determine Who Was at Fault in Austin?
Determining who was at fault in your accident may not be as straightforward as you think. While it’s often cut and dried if there are only two vehicles involved, there may be many factors that come into play. These include how much your actions contributed to the collision, if any road conditions contributed, if multiple cars were involved, and if any drivers were driving while distracted or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Because Texas is a “fault” state, insurance companies must first allocate fault for the accident before paying out a claim. As long as you’re no more than 50 percent responsible for the accident, you can recover damages. That often means proving through damage reports, witness statements, and other documentation that the other driver was more at fault for the collision than you.
Car insurance providers like Progressive may attempt to show that you are more responsible for the accident than the other driver as a way to avoid paying out your claim. An auto accident lawyer can help make sure insurance companies don’t attempt to hold you more responsible than you are.
They will investigate the cause of the accident to see who was at fault and make sure the percentage of liability matches up with what really happened so you get the compensation you deserve.
How Do You File a Progressive Accident Insurance Claim in Austin, TX?
Contacting your insurance provider should be one of the first things you do after your accident. If your insurance provider is Progressive, you can submit your claim and any pertinent information online or through its mobile app. You can also call to speak to a claims adjuster directly, but be sure not to offer a recorded statement without first consulting with an attorney.
The specific terms of your insurance plan dictate how long you have to report a collision. In some cases, if you don’t report within a specific time period, you may lose the right to recover any damages.
In Texas, an insurance provider must approve or deny your accident claim within 15 days of gathering all the relevant information. If your claim is approved, the insurance provider must pay out your claim within five business days. If your claim is denied, they must give you reasons why.
Car insurance companies may try to engage in bad faith tactics like denying a valid injury claim or trying to get you to settle for a low amount. An auto accident lawyer can ensure that this doesn’t happen, and that an insurance company like Progressive isn’t purposely delaying your claim. Your attorney will put pressure on the claims adjuster to review and decide your claim in a timely manner so you can move past your accident.
Are You Permitted to Also File a Personal Injury Claim in Austin?
In Texas, you are permitted to file both an insurance claim and a personal injury claim against a negligent driver. You are typically required to file a personal injury claim within two years of the accident under the state’s statute of limitations, but the period may be longer or shorter depending on the facts of your case.
A Texas auto accident attorney can review your case and determine whether you have a personal injury claim. Your lawyer can oversee both your insurance and personal injury claims to make sure you have all the necessary documentation and don’t miss any filing deadlines.
What Type of Damages Can You Get After an Accident in Austin, TX?
Most basic Progressive insurance policies cover medical bills and property damage, but your policy may have more coverage, such as lost wages and pain and suffering.
The damages you can receive in an accident insurance claim typically cover medical bills and property damage. What you actually receive depends on factors like how much damage was done to your vehicle, how extensive your injuries are, and if you were found to be partially at fault.
Compensation also depends on the insurance coverage held by both you and the other parties involved as well as the evidence you have to support your claim. An attorney will make sure you have all the evidence needed — including medical bills, auto body receipts, and police reports — so you can get the compensation to which you’re entitled.
How Do You Protect Yourself when Dealing with Insurance Companies?
While you may be ready to move on from your accident, insurance companies often do whatever it takes to avoid paying out your claim. They may try to get you to settle quickly with a lowball offer or argue that you were more responsible for the accident than you actually were.
To help protect yourself when interacting with insurance providers like Progressive, never accept the first offer they give you and never admit fault. Only answer the questions they ask you and keep your answers short. Never sign or agree to anything you aren’t comfortable with.
The best way to protect yourself is to work with a lawyer who will represent your interests and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. An attorney will make sure that an insurance company like Progressive won’t take advantage of you and that you recover as many damages as possible for the accident.
How Our Car Accident Law Firm in Austin, TX Can Help
Our attorneys are experienced with Progressive accident settlements and are here to help you with every aspect of your claim. When you work with our auto accident lawyers at FVF Law, you can be confident that your claim will get resolved quickly and fairly so that you can focus on healing. For your free, no-commitment case consultation, contact our lawyers in Austin, Texas, today.