After accidents, income loss due to missed time from work, medical bills, and property damage repair costs seemingly hit you right away, there is no delay in their effects. So, when there is a delay in the claims settlement process, it can create a great deal of financial pressure and hardship. In many instances, you can avoid these delays. Ensure you know how to keep your claim moving forward as quickly as possible.
Absence of Liability
With any accident, there is always a responsible party. Sometimes, all parties involved in the accident are to blame, and in other instances, it is just a single driver. Whatever the scenario, insurance companies will not process a claim until they have proof that their client is liable for the damages caused.
Having an attorney can help with delays in this area. Attorneys use data from the police report and perform accident reconstructions to pinpoint exactly who is to blame for the accident and, therefore, is negligent. They then present this evidence to the insurance company to put an end to the liability discussion.
Assignment of Responsibility Questions
Delays can also occur when there is more than one party responsible for the accident. Take an accident involving a delivery truck, for example. If the driver owns the delivery truck and they were intoxicated at the time of the accident, the victim could file a suit against the driver's insurance company.
However, if the company the driver works for knew the driver was intoxicated and ignored the issue, they could have a claim filed against them too. Again, having an attorney to sort out these matters can help move things along faster.
Missing Documentation
An insurance company is not in the business of paying out money freely; they must have evidence that a victim is due the money before they release a settlement. For this reason, if a victim has failed to submit the proper documentation to the insurance company, their claim will not move forward.
Updated medical records, reports detailing damages to their property, and income records that total the lost wages are just some of the records the insurance company will request. Typically, an attorney will keep you informed of the deadlines for submitting these documents so that you do not have to worry about forgetting.
Remember, working with an attorney can help ensure your claim progresses in a timely manner, so be sure to contact an attorney for assistance. For more information, contact an auto accident attorney near you.
