The number of fatalities from motor vehicle accidents hit a 16-year high in 2021. There were more miles traveled by road last year because of fears of flying during the pandemic.

Everything from multi-vehicle crashes to pedestrian accidents increased over the last year. If you were injured in a car accident, and the accident wasn’t your fault, you have the right to file car accident claims.

There are a lot of legalities and processes to be aware of. Read on to learn about the claim filing process and how you can resolve your car accident case.

Gather Car Accident Claim Documents

You need to show that your injuries resulted from the other driver’s actions or inactions behind the wheel. You don’t need to have a picture of them on their mobile phone while driving, but you do need to present other documents.

Get a copy of the police report, medical bills, income records, and communications between you and your employer if you missed work because of the accident.

There may be a claim filing deadline. Insurance policies usually state that a claim needs to happen within a reasonable time frame.

Your state has a statute of limitations regarding filing lawsuits. It’s usually within one or two years. Be sure to know what this is in your state. You could miss out on your claim.

File a Demand Letter

A demand letter is a formal letter that kicks off the claim filing process. This has information about the accident.

You also provide copies of documents that support your claim. Be careful with how you word the demand letter. The contents could get held against you in court.

In the letter, don’t make a request or demand money. Just give the insurance company a specific amount of time to respond.

Negotiate With Insurance Companies

An insurance company should respond with a settlement offer. Don’t be surprised if they lowball the offer.

If you’re not sure if you have a lowball offer look for a few warning signs. For example, the insurance company may give you a few days to accept.

An insurance company that offers a settlement before you even start the claim filing process is probably lowballing you. They may try to make you at fault for the accident.

Keep in mind that you have the right to negotiate for a better settlement.

Hire an Attorney

The process to file car accident claims is stressful. You have to get everything just right to get what you deserve. This is why you want to hire a car accident attorney for your claim.

They’ll handle everything for you and fight for a larger settlement. Most car accident lawyers don’t get paid unless they get a settlement, so you have nothing to lose.

Know How to File Car Accident Claims

You need to make sure your rights get protected if you got hurt in a car accident. This guide showed you the steps to file car accident claims.

Even if you decide to go through the process yourself, it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney about your car accident case.

For more legal help, check out the other articles on this site.