Car insurance is required for anyone who operates a vehicle in the United States. It protects you from many out-of-pocket costs that may result from the accident.
Depending on your insurance company and the specific auto insurance policy, you could be compensated for vehicle repair or replacement costs, medical bills from injury treatments, and damages from accidents with uninsured or underinsured motorists.
Allstate is one of the largest auto insurance companies in the country. If you are involved in a car accident, you must know how to file a claim to receive the compensation you deserve. Read on to find out how to file a claim and how a Chicago car insurance claim lawyer from our law firm can help.
Types of Allstate Auto Insurance Policies
Allstate offers many types of insurance policies to account for multiple scenarios. A liability coverage policy protects you if you are at fault for an accident and another person must be paid damages. Your insurance company will cover these bodily injury and property damages up to the liability policy limit.
Collision insurance covers repairing or replacing a vehicle after a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. Comprehensive coverage is for incidents beyond your control, such as damage caused by hitting a deer or lousy weather. If your auto insurance policy includes medical payments, your bills for injury treatment after the accident can be covered.
Lastly, you can pay for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to protect yourself when the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover your costs.
Policy Limits and Deductibles
The amount you receive from your car insurance claim depends on two key factors: your policy limits and deductible. Policy limits cap the maximum compensation per incident. For example, a $25,000 collision coverage limit means that’s the most you can receive for vehicle repairs or replacement for one accident.
Your deductible is the amount you must pay before insurance coverage begins. If you have personal injury protection with a $1,000 deductible, you must pay that amount before receiving coverage.
Gathering Necessary Information for Your Allstate Auto Insurance Claim
When you file an auto insurance claim with Allstate or any insurance company, the adjusters will require much information before providing coverage. Gathering this information as soon as possible will ensure its accuracy and speed up the car accident settlement process.
Accident Details
When you file a claim, you must provide details about the car accident. What was the date, time, and location of the collision? How did the accident occur? Accurate information is necessary when filing an insurance claim, so be as detailed as possible in your description.
You should also request a copy of the police report to send to your insurance company. The police report includes information about the collision based on their car accident investigation. Make sure you note the report number so you can reference it later.
Vehicle and Driver Information
You must also provide Allstate with information from the other driver. If multiple cars were involved in the accident, collect information from all of them. Your insurer will likely ask for names, contact information, and insurance company details.
When contacting your insurer, you should also record vehicle descriptions, such as the make, model, and license plate number of each vehicle involved in the collision.
Witness Information
Fault plays a role in most insurance claims. To corroborate the facts of the accident, witness testimonials are essential. If anyone observed the car accident as it happened, you should speak to them to get a written statement and take down their contact information. You or your lawyer can contact them later for an official statement.
Medical Records and Bills
If you get injured in a car accident, keep all medical records and bills documenting your health and treatment plan. If you have imaging tests or doctors’ notes regarding your injury, hold onto them to present during the insurance claim process. You will need evidence of your treatment to claim compensation.
Reporting the Claim to Allstate Insurance Company
Insurance claims are crucial for those involved in motor vehicle accidents. If your car insurance policy is through Allstate, there are multiple ways to file your claim.
Multiple Ways to File
Allstate Insurance has numerous methods for filing insurance claims. First, you can navigate to the website and use an existing account or create a new account to file your claim online. You can also call the claims phone number at 1-800-255-7828 to file a claim over the phone. You will likely deal with an automated system or speak to a representative directly.
Lastly, if you download the Allstate app on your smartphone, you can file your claim using that system. If you file your claim through the mobile app or online, you must provide supporting documents via attachments or photos.
What to Expect When Filing
Processing a claim requires a lot of information about the accident, such as the other drivers involved, vehicle damage, vehicle descriptions, and legal implications. You may be asked where, when, and how the accident happened. The adjuster may ask about potential witnesses, fault admissions, and the extent of your injuries or vehicle damage.
The Allstate Claims Process
Now that you have filed your claim, Allstate will assess whether you deserve compensation under your policy terms and how much you will receive. Here is a brief outline of what it takes for an insurance company to process claims.
Claim Investigation
Insurance adjusters will review the official accident report, speak to all involved parties, and even inspect the damage done to your vehicle. They will also look at evidence like medical records or surveillance footage.
Damage Assessment
Next, the adjuster will assess the damage to your vehicle. They may stop by the repair shop in person to inspect the car or make their assessment based on photos of the accident scene. This process is necessary to determine how much coverage you are eligible for under property damage policy terms and particularly affects how long Allstate takes to pay a total loss claim.
Negotiating a Settlement
The final step in processing a claim is negotiating your car crash settlement amount. This compensation depends on several factors, including your documented losses, liability assessment, and policy limits.
There may be room for negotiation over this amount, but you may need to provide further evidence to justify a higher settlement. During negotiations, they’ll consider your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other accident-related expenses before making an initial offer.
However, the best way to ensure fair compensation from insurance claims is to hire a lawyer experienced in car accident cases.
Tips for a Smooth Claims Process
A drawn-out claim process means you have to wait to receive your compensation. This delay could mean serious financial stress if your medical bills or vehicle repair costs are extensive. Here are a few tips to ensure a smooth process when filing your claim.
Be Prompt and Prepared
The sooner you take action to file your claim after the accident, the better. Gathering evidence of your damages could be difficult if you wait too long. You should also be prepared with as much information as possible for your claim. This information helps you answer the adjuster’s questions immediately to move your claim forward.
Document Everything
Everything related to the auto accident and your claim should be documented. That includes accident vehicle information, insurance information, vehicle-involved photos, weather conditions, who is at fault for the accident, communications with Allstate, police reports, and witness contact information.
Any treatment you receive for your injuries should also be recorded. The more information you have about the accident and your injuries, the easier it will be to answer all questions and file your claim efficiently.
Consider Legal Representation
If you were involved in an accident with multiple drivers or have a dispute over fault, you may need to involve personal injury lawyers. A Chicago auto accident attorney from our team can protect your rights while filing a claim and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
We can also strengthen your position when negotiating with the other insurance company for a larger settlement to cover all damages.
Expert Legal Counsel for Your Car Insurance Claim!
An auto accident can turn your life upside down, but policy claims can help you recover compensation for your losses and secure your financial future. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has extensive experience working with car accident victims and helping them file claims with their insurance companies.
Whether you are concerned about a low offer from your insurer or need to negotiate for more money with the other insurance company, our team can represent you and build a solid case.
Call us today at 888-424-5757 or complete our contact form to book a free consultation with a Chicago personal injury lawyer.