How to Claim Under Third-Party Car Insurance
If a person crashes your car, you can seek compensation. The process of seeking this kind of car accident compensation is called a third-party insurance claim.
A car accident can cause losses or damages to property. An investigation will reveal how much should be compensated. Third-party insurance will compensate you for such situations.
Other situations include car accident injuries. An insurance company of the driver at fault pays for the cost of treatment. Requests for compensation have a specific timeframe.
What is a Third Party-Car Insurance Policy?
A third-party insurance policy is when an insured person buys a policy from an insurance company. The purpose of the policy is to protect themselves against another person’s claim.
The insurance company of a driver at fault will pay you after you follow a specific process. Here is what you need to know about making a third-party car insurance claim.
Car Accident Lawsuit
After an accident, you need to pay filing fees and wait for a hearing. Other expenses that you may need to incur are car injury expenses, such as the cost of treatment.
The person seeking compensation will have to wait for a case to be determined in their favor before receiving a settlement. A car accident lawsuit funding can pay your expenses and buy what you need during the waiting period.
This is risk-free funding, and you do not have to look for money to pay back the debt. When you apply for a law cash advance, you will pay back the money after winning your case. If you are injured and need money to pay your bills, you qualify for client legal funding.
This type of funding is not the same as car accident lawsuit loans. It does not depend on an applicant’s credit score. A car accident lawsuit funding gives you cash relief during the investigation period. Here is what you should have in mind during an investigation and when making a third-party claim.
No-Fault States
Some states have no-fault laws. In such states, you need to make injury claims first. You should make these claims to your insurance company.
You also need to have PIP (Personal Injury Protection) insurance for making a third-party claim. In no-fault states, you need to meet specific qualifications before you can sue a driver for a car crash. In most cases, you can only sue a driver when a serious injury or death occurs in such states.
Under-Insured Driver
In some cases, a driver who causes an accident may not have enough insurance. It means such a driver may not be able to cover the injuries of the other driver.
You have an option to use your underinsured motorist cover. This cover can help pay your medical bills if a driver that caused the accident does not have enough coverage.
If this option is not available for you, you can apply for a law cash pre-settlement funding. This is advance money that can help pay your medical expenses as you sue the other driver.
You can pay back the advance after you win the case and receive a settlement. An underinsured driver can still have some money to pay you, although it may not be enough.
Collision Insurance
In other situations, you may have collision insurance cover. You can decide to use this cover and not the at-fault driver’s insurance.
This cover compensates you for car damages that someone else causes. The downside of this option is that deductibles will cause your compensation to be reduced.
You can later get your deductible amount if your insurer decides to get a reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
What You Should Do at a Car Accident Scene
When making a third-party claim, you may need to prove that the other driver is at fault. To make a solid case, you need to hire an attorney and collect evidence.
Collect all the information you need from the accident scene. For example, take photos, any eyewitness contacts, and police reports. These are some of the items you will need for your case. Here is what you should do immediately after an accident.
Avoid Panicking
When your car is involved in an accident, try not to panic. Step aside and breathe. Look out for any soft tissue injuries.
Make sure nobody in the car is injured. Any injuries will raise the stakes for insurance claims.
Exchange Driver Information
After confirming your safety and your passenger’s safety, stay calm. Avoid road rage. If possible, move to a safer position and avoid crowded places or roads with cars moving at high speed.
Exchange insurance information with the driver of the other car and make sure you call the police. Wait until a police officer arrives.
Collect Information
Collect all the information you need. Gather information from the insurance ID of the other driver.
Some insurance companies have a mobile app with a checklist for car accidents. You can use such resources.
Take as many pictures as you need to capture your damaged car and the road condition. You will need such information to file a claim.
Contact your Insurance Company
Reach out to your insurance company without wasting any time regardless of who is at fault. Many insurance companies have mobile apps that you can use to file a claim. Confirm if this is allowed and use such resources.
Submit your Claim
Confirm the deadline for submitting a claim, and make sure you submit yours within the time limit. In most cases, the deadline for submission is 30 days.
Understand your Car Insurance Policy
After an accident, read and understand your car insurance policy. Remind yourself what you are entitled to and what you are not entitled to.
Claim Process
When you start the claiming process, the first step is to register FIR (First-Information Report). You can do this at a police station that is near you and collect a charge sheet.
After registering an FIR, a tribunal will register a case. This is a special court that deals with car accidents claims.
Special tribunal courts are used in this process because civic courts are not allowed to judge compensation claims of such cases. You can register a claim for damage of property, injury, or even death.
What Will Be Compensated
When an accident occurs, a person may suffer serious injuries that cause them to be hospitalized. You may want to file claims for hospitalization bills.
Injuries can cause permanent and total disability or partial disability. In other situations, an accident can cause a loss of wages. This means a person is not able to earn an income due to accident injuries.
When you register a case with a tribunal court, you can be compensated after proving the other driver is at fault.
These cases may take a long period to resolve. During this time, you also need to pay some bills. In situations like these, a person may opt for personal injury lawsuit loans. These are accident loans that help settle your bills as you wait to win a case and get a settlement.
In other cases, an accident may cause death. A person can claim medical expenses for injuries that caused death. The dependants of the policyholder are eligible for compensation.
Conclusion
If you own a car, it is advisable to understand how to claim under third-party car insurance. It does not matter who is to blame.
Knowing what to do when an accident occurs can save you from making costly mistakes. One of the things you must remember is the duration it takes before you receive a settlement.
During this period, you may need to spend money on expenses like bills and other lawsuit fees. There are lawsuit lending companies that can provide auto accidents loans to help you pay for expenses.