USAA Auto Accident Claims

USAA is a fast-growing insurance company that is geared toward providing banking and insurance products for military service members and veterans. USAA was founded in 1922 by 25 Army officers in San Antonio. The officers decided to insure each other’s vehicles. Decades later, USAA provides millions of members banking, car, home, and life insurance policies. In 2017, USAA had a net worth of 30.6 billion dollars and it is continuing to grow. The company offers 50.7 million products, has 12.4 million members and has returned $1.6 billion in claims to customers.

USAA car insurance policies offer unique incentives for military members. For example, they offer 15% off of comprehensive auto insurance for those customers who park their vehicles on base. They also offer a 60% discount for service members who store their vehicle while the customer in on a military deployment. They offer an online claims center an easy-access mobile application. Despite all of the incentives they offer military customers, it is important to understand that they are still a for-profit company that seeks to pay out as little as legally possible to victims submitting a car accident claim.

USAA is an insurance company that provides a lot of charity for the military community, it is still a for-profit insurance company. Like all other major U.S. insurers, USAA has denied insurance claims in the past. If you have suffered an injury in a motor vehicle accident involving a USAA policyholder, you will need to file a claim with USAA. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC our attorneys have extensive experience helping victims receive favorable settlement agreements from USAA.

Our attorneys fight aggressively on behalf of our clients. If you need legal assistance while filing a claim against USAA for your injuries, we can help. Contact our Charlotte personal injury law firm today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Not everyone can become a customer at USAA. Only the following people may apply for insurance coverage:

• Those currently serving in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, or National Guard and Reserves
• Formal military service members who separated or retired from the U.S. with an honorable discharge
• Unmarried former spouses, widows, or widowers of USAA members who had USAA property or auto insurance while married
• Individuals who had or have USAA auto or property insurance
• Students at U.S. service academies, officer candidates with 24 months of commissioning or those in advanced ROTC scholarships

The first step in receiving compensation for your injuries is to file a claim with USAA. Customers can file a claim on their mobile application, online, or on the telephone. After receiving the claim, a USAA insurance adjuster typically calls the customer and requests more information. The adjuster may request that you give a statement as to what happened during the accident. Adjusters also inquire into whether the claimant suffered any injuries as a result of the accident and the extent of those injuries.

In some cases, USAA will send out insurance investigators to speak to witnesses, gather evidence, and review the injured party’s medical records and the police report. In some instances, insurance adjusters go to great lengths to deny an insurance claim or minimize the payout amount. Sometimes adjusters call injured parties soon after the accident and offer them a check for a settlement amount, this offer should be viewed with great skepticism as it is often a much lower amount than appropriate when doing a thorough assessment.

While accepting a check upfront from USAA can be tempting, it is often not the best option for those who suffer injuries in car accidents. Settlement agreements usually contain a clause that states that by signing the agreement, you give up your right to seek compensation from USAA or the driver. If the settlement amount will cover all of your expenses related to the accident for life, signing the agreement and taking the money may be a valid option. However, if the settlement amount is too low, and long term costs have not been properly considered it is unwise to agree to it right away.

If USAA denied your car accident claim or has offered you a settlement amount that is too low, we can help. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC all of our attorneys have significant experience representing clients in insurance claim matters related to USAA. Contact our North Carolina personal injury law firm today to schedule your free initial consultation. Now accepting cases across the great state of North Carolina and offering three convenient office locations in Charlotte, Lake Norman and Monroe.