How To File An Insurance Claim

What is an insurance claim?

When you file an insurance claim, you’re asking your insurance provider to provide financial compensation. Sometimes, you’ll file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. The following situations are examples of incidents that could prompt you to file an insurance claim:

• An auto accident – Traffic-related accidents injured over 2.2 million people in the U.S. in 2020.
• Physical injuries stemming from accidents or wrongful acts – Anyone accidentally injured or hurt by a person’s negligence or deliberate actions may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim. 
• Theft of property – The U.S. recorded over 4.6 million larceny-theft cases in 2020. If someone steals valuables from your home, you can file a claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy.
• Weather damage to property – Storms can damage roofs, siding, windows, garages, vehicles, and possessions. Two out of every five insurance claimants cited weather damage as the reason for insurance claims filed in 2020. 
• Wrongful death – Unintentional injuries claimed over 200,000 lives in 2020. The decedents’ families could file wrongful death claims depending on the circumstances.

When should you file an insurance claim?

You can file an insurance claim when you’re in an accident, the victim of a theft or assault, or sustain property damage from weather or vandalism. The type of claim you’ll file depends on the events leading to the claim and the property involved. You’d look at filing a car insurance claim if you were in an auto accident; however, you’d file a claim against your homeowner’s insurance if someone stole belongings from your property.

You should file an insurance claim whenever you incur significant damages or losses. You may also file an insurance claim if you need money to cover expenses. In some cases, you may file more than one type of claim. Suppose you were in a car accident and your leg was broken. In addition to your injuries, the accident destroyed valuable jewelry in the accident and claimed the life of a loved one. You may have grounds to file car, homeowner’s, and life insurance claims. You may also deal with health insurance claims or find yourself filing a personal injury lawsuit against the person who caused the accident.

Are there times you shouldn’t file an insurance claim? 

Most insurance policies have deductible amounts you must pay when making a claim. Consequently, filing a claim can still cost you money. Suppose repairing damage or replacing missing items costs less than your deductible. In that case, it’s a good idea to pay the costs. This way, you won’t pay higher premiums after making a claim. Depending on the potential insurance rate increase from a claim, paying out of pocket may be less expensive, even if the costs are a little more than your deductible amount.

How to file an insurance claim

The steps required to file a claim may vary based on the reason for the claim. These steps may include some or all of the following:

• Call the police – This step applies if your claim stems from a crime. Each state also sets requirements for contacting the police after car accidents. Any accident involving physical injuries must be reported.
• Make records – Take photos or videos of the scene and record the names and contact information of witnesses. Make notes about any contributing factors. For example, if you were in a car accident at an intersection where the lights weren’t working, that could be relevant to your claim. Continue to save any relevant documentation, such as medical bills.
• Exchange insurance information – It’s customary to exchange contact and insurance information after an auto accident. 
• Contact your insurance company – Ask your insurance company to provide you with a claim form. Complete the form and submit it to your insurance provider.
• Contact a personal injury attorney – Contact an attorney if your claim stems from an incident causing physical injuries or wrongful death. Your attorney can help you file your claims and determine if you have grounds to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. 

How can a personal injury lawyer help you with filing insurance claims in Nevada? 

Contact Adam S. Kutner Injury Attorneys to discuss your case. We can help you file your insurance claims and determine if you have grounds for pursuing a lawsuit. You could qualify for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. We’ll fight to get you every penny you deserve.

Sources:

Duffin, E. (2021). Property crime in the U.S. – Statistics & Facts. 

Elflein, T. (2022). Unintentional injury in the U.S. – Statistics & Facts. 

Fields, S. (2021). The changing climate is driving up home insurance claims, and rates. 
Number of road traffic-related injuries and fatalities in the U.S. from 1990 to 2020 (2023).