Our Seasoned Florida Car Crash Attorneys Explain How to File an Accident Claim With State Farm
If a car accident has left you injured and trying to cope with the stress of medical care and car repairs, dealing with the insurance company is likely the last thing you want to do. The process of filing an injury claim with an insurance company can be overwhelming and frustrating, but it’s also essential that you file a claim as soon as possible. The sooner you file, the sooner you can receive an offer for the compensation you will likely need for mounting medical bills. 
The skilled car accident attorneys at Spetsas Buist can help. If you have a policy with State Farm Insurance, or if another party in the accident has State Farm Insurance, we have the information you need. Here, we discuss personal injury claims, how to file one with State Farm, and how to deal with insurance adjusters.
How Personal Injury Insurance Claims Work
Insurance claims are formal requests on the party of a policyholder to seek compensation for losses or damages covered by their insurance plan. For auto insurance policies, such claims might include compensation for injuries or property damage.
As a policyholder, you can only file a claim for losses or events that your policy specifically covers. You should read your plan information carefully to become familiar with the kinds of claims you can make. You should also check your deductible and the requirements for it, as you may be required to pay costs up to the deductible amount before your insurer will provide coverage.
To file a claim with State Farm, you’ll have to fill out their required claim paperwork to report the accident. State Farm will then assign an insurance adjuster to investigate your claim to check its validity and determine its value.
How to Strengthen Your Florida Accident Injury Claim
Many insurance companies are focused on minimizing how much they have to pay out, so your adjuster may try to minimize your injuries or property damage. Here are some steps that can help you protect your rights and obtain maximum benefits:
- Gather evidence. The most essential first step after an accident is to ensure the safety of you and others involved. If you’re safely able to move around after calling 911, use your time at the scene to gather evidence. Take photos and videos of the vehicles and surrounding area. Collect insurance and contact information from all involved parties and any witnesses. Take note of any traffic cameras to seek footage of the accident.
- Seek immediate medical attention. Even if you did not require emergency medical services, you should seek medical care ASAP after an accident. Stressful situations like crashes often release hormones that prevent pain signals, so you may have injuries that you won’t notice until days later. Beyond your own medical safety, seeing your doctor ASAP also demonstrates your injuries are serious and establishes a connection between those injuries and the accident.
- Keep careful records. Keep all medical documents from your treatment, including medical bills, medical records, and doctor’s notes. Keep track of the photos and videos you took at the scene, and keep any records from work, including paystubs and communication about how injuries affect your ability to perform on the job.
- File your insurance claim promptly. Don’t wait to file your claim and risk forgetting crucial details. Ideally, you should file a claim within 24 hours of the accident.
How to File a Florida Car Accident Insurance Claim With State Farm
There are three ways you can initiate a claim with State Farm for auto accidents:
- File online through their claims center.
- File through State Farm’s mobile app.
- Call (800) SF-Claim (800-732-5246).
State Farm will investigate the details of your case once they receive your claim. Once you’ve filed, get an estimate for vehicle repairs. State Farm offers three claims payment options for subscribers: They will pay the shop directly, direct deposit the money into your own account, or send you a check.
In addition to filing a claim, State Farm suggests you notify your insurance agent as soon as possible.
Dealing With Insurance Adjusters: How to Maximize the Potential Value of Your Florida Accident Claim
Whether you’re dealing with State Farm as a subscriber or a non-subscriber seeking compensation from an at-fault driver, you need to approach interactions with insurance companies with caution. Here are tips for talking to insurance adjusters so you can protect your interests:
- Be cautious about what you say. Adjusters may ask tricky questions in the hope that they find ways to use what you say against you. Take the time you need to think before responding to questions.
- Do not admit fault. Keep your responses focused on the facts. Even if you think you may share fault, let the insurance adjuster investigate and determine who is responsible for the accident.
- Offer substantive documentation to support your claim. Provide all information and documentation requested by the adjuster, including any evidence you gathered from the scene. However, submit any photos you took to your attorney first.
- Do not provide a recorded statement. It’s possible you may say something that insurance companies can use against you to minimize the value of your claim.
- Wait to sign legal documents until a lawyer reviews them carefully. Whether you’re sent a settlement offer or other documents, avoid signing without making sure you understand the full scope of what you’re agreeing to in the documents. Obtaining legal representation is important to help you with this.
- Don’t accept the first offer. Insurance companies often make low settlement offers to start, so it’s important to negotiate.
It can be easy to make mistakes while dealing with insurance adjusters, especially since they have far more experience dealing with claims than you likely do. That’s why the legal skill of a car accident attorney can be very beneficial.
