How you handle your accident claim when dealing with another driver’s car insurance provider can affect the size of the settlement check you receive.
As you assemble your claim, you must include all of your evidence, all of your medical bills, and a full list of what you expect to be compensated for. You must also be cautious of certain car insurance tactics Progressive may turn to, hoping to limit the amount of compensation they just pay out.
Filing a Claim with Progressive
If you need to file a claim after getting hit by a careless driver covered by Progressive, you can go online or try their app.
When filing, you’ll go here. There’s a button for those who have a login (Progressive customers) and for guests (accident victims who are filing against another driver’s insurance).
You’ll be asked if everyone is alright. Then you’ll provide your name and phone number. At that point, they’ll ask you for more information about the accident.
Having this information handy can make the process easier:
- The name of the driver with Progressive insurance
- The VIN of the other driver’s car
- Information from the insurance card of the other driver
- The date, time, and location of the accident
You can also call the company to file a report at 1-800-776-4737.
When You May Benefit from a Lawyer’s Help
If your injuries are serious and your accident was caused by a careless driver, it’s a good sign to contact a lawyer for a free case consultation.
You’ll go over your best options for getting as much for your recovery costs as possible, as fast as possible. If a lawyer represents you, they’ll be fully investigating how an accident unfolded and backing up the truth with evidence. This evidence blocks certain insurance tactics. Your attorney can also usually negotiate a much bigger settlement for you than you could on your own.
Insurance Tactics When Dealing With Progressive
Progressive pays a lot for advertising to bring us Flo, Jamie, and Dr. Rick, but they aren’t always as eager to help car accident victims.
Large car insurance companies have a playbook they often work from when their drivers hurt other motorists. The strategies they use are pulled out quickly when serious injuries like broken bones and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are involved. This means insurers will pay more for medical bills built up over a longer recovery time.
They will do anything to avoid this payout. Here are a few of the most common tactics they use to limit what injured victims receive.
- Raise questions about a Bakersfield Police accident report: When the BPD or the CHP respond to your accident, the officer will prepare a police report about what happened. Progressive won’t put any stock in this report if it blames their policyholder. A lawyer pushes back on your behalf and keeps the facts straight.
- Exploring your driving background: Progressive may bring up old accidents, trying to imply that you are a reckless driver. Your past record has no bearing on this accident. Your attorney would quickly strike back.
- Exploring medical records: An insurer may check over your past injury history. They could try to link any new injury to something you were dealing with in the past. They’ll use it as an excuse to dismiss your injury and reject your claim. These baseless attacks are used to weaken your resolve so you’ll accept less. A personal injury attorney will get aggressive on your behalf to shut these tactics down.
- Twisting statements to hurt your case: Don’t talk with the other driver about who was at fault or how badly you are injured. And don’t give recorded statements to any insurance company that calls you. Insurance agents will hope that you say something that they can twist to hurt your case. Allow your personal injury lawyer to do the talking for you.
See: State Law regarding how long an insurer can make you wait for support.
Discuss Your Accident Claim with a Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney for FREE
If you suffered a serious injury in a collision and the at-fault driver’s insurance company is trying to stick you with the bills, contact Maison Law for a free case consultation.
There’s no obligation for your meeting. There are also no upfront charges if you need to hire us. Maison Law actually doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our lawyer’s fee comes out of the settlement money that State Farm must hand over to you.
