After a Florida Car Accident: Filing Your USAA Personal Injury Claim

Our Skilled FL Accident Attorneys Explain How to Maximize Your Injury Claim When Filing With USAA

When you’re injured in a car accident, one of the most frustrating things you may face is the insurance claims process. Dealing with insurance adjusters, whether they’re from your own insurance company or from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, can be a daunting experience, and the statements you make to them may jeopardize your personal injury claim.

After your car accident injury, our top-notch car accident injury attorneys at Spetsas Buist can help. We’ve seen the stress the claims process has on clients and know how challenging it is to deal with insurance companies when you’re trying to recover. We’ve helped hundreds of clients with their personal injury claims. We handle all communication with the insurance adjusters, gather evidence, and negotiate on a client’s behalf. Here, we discuss how to file a claim with USAA and how to maximize your potential compensation.

Florida Car Accidents: Understanding the Claims Process

Even if you were not at fault for the accident, it’s essential to report any car accident to your insurance company. If you were at fault, or if you’re unable to gain insurance information for the at-fault driver, you can often seek compensation for damages through your own policy. It’s helpful to familiarize yourself with your plan and what it covers and check your deductible. Whichever companies you file with, do it sooner rather later so you don’t forget vital details about the accident that can help your claim.

Factors in a Successful Personal Injury Claim

After an accident, you will likely deal with an insurance adjuster—either from your own insurance company or from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. They may contact you within hours of the crash or even when you’re still in the hospital. It’s important to understand that insurance adjusters are looking to minimize their company’s potential payout, so it’s critical that you do all you can after the crash to strengthen your injury claim, including the following:

• Collect evidence before you leave the scene. If you’re physically able, gather evidence from the scene of the accident. Examples of helpful evidence include photos and videos of the vehicles, photos of all injuries, photos of road conditions at the scene, contact and insurance information for involved drivers, and contact information for witnesses. Call law enforcement to the scene and get a police report. This report can provide helpful information for your claim.
• Seek immediate medical attention. Even if you don’t feel pain following the crash, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Stressful events can lead to the release of pain-suppressing hormones, and your symptoms may not present for hours or days. A doctor can determine if you have internal bleeding or other injuries that aren’t yet presenting. Seeking immediate medical care also shows the connection between the accident and your injuries, which will be important for your injury claim.
• Keep careful records. Insurance companies will require evidence of your injuries and property damage, including medical records, bills, doctor notes, photos or videos of the accident scene, and the police report. Gather pay stubs and all information that can corroborate missed work due to the accident.
• File your claim promptly. File your claim as soon as possible after the accident. It’s common to forget vital details the longer you wait, so it’s important to file your personal injury claim ASAP.

How to File a Florida Car Accident Insurance Claim With USAA

USAA utilizes the following five-step claims process for auto accidents:

1. Report. Report the accident through their online claims center.
2. Investigate. USAA will typically determine who is at fault for the accident within 14 days of filing. They will let you know what they need from you and your next steps. Check the status of your claim at any time through the claims center.
3. Estimate. USAA will set up an inspection to estimate the cost of repairs and let you know when you can get that repair work done.
4. Pay. If you have some of your deductible left, you will pay the cost of repairs, and the shop will claim the rest of the payment from USAA, depending on the payment preferences you set up.
5. Repair. If mechanics find more damage while conducting repairs, USAA will work with them directly to negotiate repairs for hidden damages.

Communicating With Insurance Adjusters

Because insurance adjusters want to pay out as little as possible to accident victims, they are trained to get you to make statements that can jeopardize your claim and reduce your compensation. To avoid making mistakes that may be used against you, our attorneys offer the following tips for how to communicate with the adjusters in a way that protects your rights:

• Give only the facts about the crash. Don’t offer your opinion or give details.
• Do not provide a recorded statement.
• Do not admit fault.
• Don’t accept the first settlement offer.
• Don’t sign documents or settlement offers without speaking with a lawyer first.