When you have an accident, you need to take a few steps immediately to protect yourself. Start by calling 911, exchanging insurance information, taking pictures of the crash and staying collected.
Despite all of this, your insurance company may fight you by claiming that no-fault accidents are non-binding, which means that you have to take the following steps too.
Contact the insurance companies
First things first, call the at-fault party’s insurance company to report the car accident. Do not mention fault. Just give them the facts that prove that their client was at fault. That professionalism gives you more credibility.
Then, call your insurance agent. That is especially important because your policy covers the first 20,000 dollars of your medical expenses, no matter who is at fault and it protects you in case the other driver’s insurance was invalid when the crash occurred.
Start your legal claim
If the at-fault driver’s auto insurance denies your claim, they will tell you to seek coverage from your provider. However, it is illegal for them to deny the claim without investigating the facts properly. In this case, you can file a claim with your insurance, which will fight the other company.
The other option is to start a legal claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This will involve navigating the murky world of laws surrounding insurance. Plus, it will probably mean losing a percentage of your settlement due to assistance you might have to hire.
Should you need the no-fault coverage offered by your insurance company, deal with them just like the other driver’s provider. Give them the facts and any documentation they need. If they try to tell you that this portion of your contract is non-binding, you need to take legal action against them.