Property Damage Claims After a Car Accident

Property damage claims are a normal part of the process after a car accident. They involve documenting damage, navigating insurance coverage, and working with your insurance company to establish compensation. 

Property damage claims can be complex to complete, but they’re a necessary step in ensuring you get the money you need to repair or replace your vehicle. This article will look at some of the steps involved in this process.

What to Do After an Accident

Ensuring that you’ll have a smooth process getting compensation for damaged property starts right after the accident. You don’t need to worry about lost future wages or the role of expert witnesses in accident cases just yet. Right now, your job comes down to a few simple steps:

Ensure Safety

This is the absolute first thing that should be done after any accident. Make sure you and any other people involved are okay and aren’t in a position to be hurt further. Call 911 if necessary.

Document the Accident

Take photos of both vehicles (even parts that might not appear damaged) and take photos or videos of the accident scene, including road conditions and posted signs. It’s easy for someone who’s just been in an accident to miss important details, and taking what feels like too many pictures can compensate for that. This might be your one chance to get clear, straightforward evidence of damage.

Exchange Information

Everyone knows that after an accident with another driver, you should exchange contact and insurance information. What some people don’t know, or don’t think of immediately after an accident, is that it can be important to trade information with witnesses, as well. 

By the time the police arrive, those who saw the accident in real time might be gone, so it’s important to get their information as soon as possible. This might be the only time you can connect with what might later be invaluable information.

File a Police Report

This can feel unnecessary for small accidents, but filing a police report establishes official documentation of the accident. This can be important depending how negotiations with insurance companies unfold, as an official, quickly-filed report can help bolster your claim. This report can also affect how fault is determined in a car accident.

Notify Your Insurance Company

After an accident, your first two calls should be to 911 and the police. Your third call should be to your insurer. They will ask for all the needed details, establishing a paper trail of official documentation right away.

Evaluating the Damage

Once you’ve reported the accident to the police and your insurance company, your insurer will send an adjuster to assess the damage. This expert will be the one to determine what damage has been done, what the cost of repairs is, and whether the vehicle has been totaled.

Filing the Claim

Assuming everything goes smoothly, the process of filing a property damage claim is relatively straightforward.

Initial Report

After the accident, call your insurer and provide them with the information they need.

Damage Assessment

The adjuster assesses the damage done to the vehicle and establishes the cost of repairs.

Estimate Review

You review the estimate, and if you disagree with it, you seek a third party’s opinion or reach out to legal counsel.

Repair Approval

Once the estimate is agreed upon, the insurance company signs off on repairs.

Repair Completion

Once the repairs are approved, the vehicle is repaired, often by a shop of the insurer’s choosing, and your insurer pays the shop directly or compensates you for the costs.

Closing Notes

As with all aspects of car accidents, property damage claims can be a stressful process. Following the above steps will help you navigate the basics, but always remember that a skilled lawyer from Gage Mathers is a phone call away. With our help, you won’t have to navigate the stress of an accident alone, and we’ll ensure you get the money you deserve!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 23 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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