Maximizing Your Allstate Insurance Claim Settlement

Have you or your loved one been injured in a car accident in North Carolina? Do you plan to file an insurance claim with Allstate for compensation? If so, you need an experienced car accident lawyer on your side to advocate for you. Insurance companies frequently offer victims settlements that are too low and will not cover all their economic and non-economic damages.

Consult with an Experienced Charlotte Area Car Accident Lawyer

At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, we know how to hold insurance companies accountable and negotiate aggressively with them to obtain the best outcome in our clients’ cases. We understand how insurance companies try to settle claims, and we use our knowledge to seek the best possible outcome for our clients. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Steps to Take Before You File Your Allstate Insurance Claim

Knowing what to do after being injured in a severe car accident can be daunting. You may be in the hospital for days or weeks after your accident or trying to adjust your life at home with your injuries. However, there are a few steps that you should take to preserve your claim for compensation, including the following:

• Double-check for injuries and take account of any pain you experienced. Sometimes injuries do not show up until days after the accident because the adrenaline from the accident masks them. We recommend going to your doctor or the emergency room after the car accident to receive a thorough medical evaluation. Do not hold back when you discuss your injuries with your doctor, tell him or her about any and all pain you are experiencing. Doing so will allow your doctor to diagnose your condition and its severity accurately.
• When you call 911, request that a police officer come to the scene of the car accident. The officer will create a police report that will be important for your insurance claim. Even if the accident was minor or just a fender bender, it is wise to obtain a police report.
• Contact Allstate to let them know that you have been in an accident as soon as you can. Again, even if the car accident was minor, you should still contact them and state that an accident has occurred.
• Do not sign any legal documents or other documents until you consult with an attorney, unless you are required to by the police. This is especially important when it comes to Allstate and other similar insurance companies. Consult with an attorney before you agree to any settlement offer from them.
• We recommend keeping a journal related to your car accident. Make notes about the accident while you still remember the small details. Write down the time, the amount of traffic, the driving conditions, the weather conditions, and driver conduct. We also recommend keeping a journal about how your bodily injuries are affecting you.
• Do not provide your opinion about the car accident or speculate on the cause of the accident to anyone other than your lawyer. It is imperative that you do not give a statement to your insurance company accidentally admitting fault.
• When you file a claim with Allstate, make sure you have all of the information you need ready, including your insurance policy number, a copy of the police report, the contact information for the passengers and witnesses, pictures of the damage to your vehicle from your cell phone, the contact information from a trusted repair shop, and documentation of your bodily injuries from the car accident. You will also need documentation of any bodily injuries you had, including the visit summary from your hospital visit and your follow-up appointments.

Do Not Accept an Insurance Settlement Without Speaking to a Lawyer

After a car accident occurs, insurance companies, including Allstate, often begin calling the victim within hours or days of the accident. If the victim has been severely injured, the insurance company may come to the victim's house and offer him or her a cash settlement, sometimes around $5,000. Accepting this type of settlement offer is tempting, especially when victims have mounting medical expenses.

However, do not accept any settlement agreement or sign any paperwork from the insurance company until you speak to an attorney who can provide you with legal advice. Your attorney can help you negotiate the best possible settlement agreement. If Allstate does not compensate you with a fair settlement agreement, your attorney can pursue compensation in court. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation by calling 855.370.2828.

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