Skip to main content How long do I have to inform my insurance company that I was in a car accident?
You have many issues to address after a car accident, starting with seeking immediate medical care to diagnose and treat injuries. Notifying law enforcement is another important step in the car accident reporting process. If your accident was due to the negligence of another driver, gathering evidence and obtaining contact information of witnesses provides your attorney with enough information to establish a case. But there is one question you must know the answer to if you expect to receive compensation for the injuries you sustained.
How long do I have to inform my insurance company that I was in a car accident?
At Morgan and Morgan, our team of experienced personal injury attorneys helps our clients navigate the insurance claim filing process, which includes ensuring our clients file a claim before the deadline. For more than 30 years, Morgan and Morgan has worked with clients to recover the financial losses caused by car accidents. We provide legal support when a client files an insurance claim, as well as represent clients that decide to file a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages.
Schedule a free case evaluation with a Morgan and Morgan personal injury lawyer to learn how long you have to inform your insurance company about a car accident.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Claim?
Unlike filing a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages, state laws typically do not establish a deadline for filing a car insurance claim. However, the policy that you signed up for most likely contains language that defines the deadline for filing an auto insurance claim. For example, a car insurance policy might state that you have 30 days after a vehicle collision to submit the proper documents that initiate an investigation into a car insurance claim. Your personal injury attorney assigned to your case by Morgan and Morgan reviews your insurance policy to determine the amount of time you have to seek compensation for the financial losses that are associated with a car accident.
Most insurance companies require policyholders to inform a law enforcement agency about a car accident within 24 hours of the collision. However, when it comes to filing a car insurance claim, the language written into a policy can be much less clear. For example, your auto insurance policy might state that you should file a car insurance claim “as soon as possible” after a vehicle collision. Defining what “as soon as possible” means is often left up to your insurance company.
Why Should I Act With a Sense of Urgency?
One of the most important reasons to act with a sense of urgency when filing a car insurance claim is to fulfill the obligation your insurance company requires when it comes to the timing of filing a claim. “As soon as possible” can have different meanings for different insurance companies. A good rule of thumb is to file a car insurance claim before one month passes after an auto collision.
Filing an auto insurance claim as soon as possible after an auto accident can help you recover financial losses much faster than if you procrastinate. Medical expenses often rise rapidly because of the costs associated with undergoing multiple diagnostic tests, as well as completing several treatment programs and physical therapy sessions. If you wait too long to file a car insurance claim, your financial obligations can put you in a deep hole.
Your personal injury attorney from Morgan and Morgan also wants you to act with a sense of urgency to obtain the statements made by witnesses. The longer your lawyer has to wait to speak to witnesses, the less reliable the witness statements will be. Memories tend to fade as time passes, which means your lawyer should interview witnesses as quickly as possible after a car accident.
Get Legal Support From a Morgan and Morgan Car Accident Attorney
Hiring a personal injury lawyer from Morgan and Morgan is important for several reasons. First, an attorney ensures you file an auto insurance claim “as soon as possible” after a vehicle collision. Second, your legal counsel can help you file a civil lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations established by your state. Third, working with an experienced Morgan and Morgan personal injury attorney can prove the four elements of negligence.
Your attorney must prove the other driver had a duty of care to protect you from sustaining one or more injuries. Violating the duty of care doctrine means the other party should assume blame for causing the car accident. The vehicle collision must have produced injuries and financial losses for you to prove the last two elements of negligence.
Schedule a free case evaluation today with a Morgan and Morgan car accident attorney to file a car insurance claim in a timely manner.
