If you are forced into a Bakersfield accident, you must be very cautious when filing a claim with an at-fault driver’s insurance provider.
There are certain tactics to beware of when dealing with a major insurance company like State Farm. You must make sure you don’t sign off on the first “lowball” offer you receive. You must also beware of the blame game. Insurance adjusters could try to toss out a Bakersfield Police accident report, or twist your comments, to shift the blame to you.
There are steps to take to avoid these pitfalls and to force a car insurance company to accept full liability.
Where to Upload Your State Farm Accident Claim
State Farm has some great commercials, and they advertise some customer-friendly services. But that treatment isn’t always extended to car accident victims who aren’t policyholders.
State Farm customers and non-customers can file in several ways. Online victims can go to the website or use the State Farm App. They can go to the File Your Claim page.
- Select “Auto”
- Select “I was in an incident with a State Farm policy holder” from the drop-down menu
You’ll be asked for the date of the accident, and then one of these numbers:
- The driver’s State Farm Policy Number or,
- The driver’s car VIN number or,
- The State Farm Insurance Card for uploading.
The site will also want one of the following: The driver’s last name, phone number, or address.
Victims can also call State Farm directly at 800-SF-Claim (800-732-5246).
Common Tactics that Rob Accident Victims of Money
Motorists struck by another driver, perhaps at a busy intersection along Brundage Lane, can hold at-fault drivers responsible for recovery costs. That can include all medical bills, time and money lost at work, and support for the pain and emotional trauma you are left with.
But this support is never guaranteed. Sometimes, it’s unlikely, especially when a giant car insurance company, like State Farm, falls back on common tactics to avoid taking financial responsibility.
Victims need to be on the lookout for these and other strategies meant to limit what they receive in a settlement check:
- Shifting Fault. If insurance adjusters can shift blame to you, without a fight, they can reject a claim outright and pay nothing. The other driver may even be able to ask you for support.
- Citing the Fine Print. Insurance adjusters may refer to the policy terms when telling you your accident isn’t covered. They may cite rules in the fine print, or terms that aren’t even there. They hope you don’t take the time to read over their policies yourself. They also hope you don’t find a lawyer who is experienced at reading and understanding car insurance terms.
- Speedy Settlements. Insurers sometimes offer a quick settlement offer. This may seem great at first, but looks can be deceiving. They may hope you sign off on this “lowball” offer. This offer may not cover all of your recovery costs. You may also get months down the road and need additional surgeries. But if you’ve already approved a settlement, you aren’t allowed to seek more in support.
- Stalling Settlements. When insurers realize they can’t escape blame for a high-priced claim, they sometimes hit the brakes on the claims process. They hope that with your compounding medical bills and your lost income while you can’t work, you get very desperate. Desperate enough to accept their “lowball” offer once they finally send it over. Your lawyer would catch this tactic, demand a faster response, reject small offers, and demand more.
- Not Mentioning a Lawyer. State Farm adjusters won’t usually mention your right to a lawyer. They hope to write you a small check and get you out the door before you have a free case consultation with an attorney. They know that a lawyer can often win you much more in support than you could win on your own.
See: Being careful what you say to a car insurance company after an accident.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Your injuries usually decide if you need a lawyer or not. If your injuries are very minor, or you’ve just got car damage, you are usually okay to file your claim yourself.
When injuries are more serious and medical bills run higher for an accident that another driver caused, it’s a good idea to talk over your case with a Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer. Car insurance companies will resort to the tactics above when the costs rise. The higher the bills go, the harder they’ll make it for you to earn compensation.
A skilled lawyer can provide strong protection by fully investigating a car accident and collecting evidence to back a case. A lawyer can file your claim and negotiate for more, while you are allowed to focus on getting better.
Discuss Your Accident Claim with a Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney for FREE
If you were in a serious accident and you feel the 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. But if you need us, we are there to help you take on an insurance company, even if you don’t have the money to hire a lawyer. 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.
