After being involved in a motor vehicle accident, you may have the opportunity to file a claim against the liable party’s insurance policy. If the driver who hit you is insured with Geico, you will need to file your claim with this insurer if you hope to recover a portion of your damages as described in the policy terms.
Your dedicated Houston car accident lawyer from Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC will be by your side every step of the claims process and can handle the negotiations with Geico insurance adjusters on your behalf. Here is our step-by-step guide on how to handle a Geico car accident claim:
Step 1. Call Emergency Responders For Help
First, you need to call emergency responders for help. At the accident scene, the driver who hit you may initially deny that calling law enforcement officers is necessary. However, even in seemingly minor car accidents, it is in your best interest to call the police and an ambulance.
In fact, according to Texas Transportation Code Chapter 550, accidents involving at least $1,000 in property damages or any type of injury must be reported to the police. Failure to do so could be considered leaving the scene of a collision. Furthermore, you are going to want a crash report that can be used to help establish how the accident occurred and who is responsible.
Step 2. Collect Evidence at the Accident Scene
Next, while you are waiting for emergency services to arrive, now is the time to collect as much evidence as you can. This is a great opportunity to make a note of how and when the accident occurred, traffic conditions at the time of the accident, and any other notable facts you can remember immediately after the wreck.
You should also take photos of the injuries you sustained, damage to all involved vehicles, and any damage to nearby property or surroundings. For instance, if you see skidmarks on the road, it would be a good idea to take photos of these so accident reconstructionists have as much information as they can to re-create the collision and establish liability.
Step 3. Get a Medical Evaluation
Once the ambulance arrives, get a medical evaluation. Even if you do not think your injuries are that serious, it is important to get medical help. You want to rule out any potential invisible injuries and get treatment for any of your obvious injuries. These medical records can help establish the severity of the injuries you sustained.
If you do not get medical attention right away, the defense could argue that you are embellishing the extent of your injuries. They may argue that your injuries couldn’t be that bad if you didn’t need medical attention right away.
Step 4. Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Next, hire a car accident attorney to take on your case. Working with a truck accident lawyer gives you an advantage that you would not have had if you attempted to pursue your insurance claim alone. While you are healing, our legal team can begin our own investigation and handle all negotiations with Geico and their insurance adjusters on your behalf.
Step 5. Report the Accident to GEICO
Once you have a car accident lawyer working for you, we can report the accident to Geico. Our legal team can file the claim on your behalf and provide Geico with all the information they need to process your claim. This may involve a description of how the accident occurred, a copy of the accident report, and other relevant evidence.
Geico will then need to investigate the accident on its own to determine how much you should be compensated. Remember, since Texas follows fault-based insurance laws under Transportation Code Chapter 601. Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act, we will be dealing with the liable party’s insurer. For this reason, the amount you can expect to recover from your Geico insurance settlement will depend on how much coverage the at-fault party has purchased.
Step 6. Negotiate With Geico Insurance Adjusters
Once Geico has completed its investigation, they will make their initial settlement offer. Do not expect this settlement offer to fully cover the value of your losses. Even if the liable party has extensive insurance coverage, Geico is unlikely to offer the full policy limits from the start. In fact, they are more likely to lowball you since they will lose money by settling your claim.
Fortunately, your legal advocate with Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC can handle these negotiations on your behalf. If we believe the settlement offer is too low, we will attempt to renegotiate with the insurance adjuster for a more reasonable payout.
Step 7. File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Civil Court
If Geico insurance adjusters are found to have handled your claim in bad faith, we may need to pursue additional legal action. However, even if Geico does pay out the full policy limits, going to trial still may be necessary. If the liable party does not have enough auto insurance coverage in place, Geico will not be expected to cover the full value of your damages.
You may have remaining damages that Geico is not legally obligated to compensate you for. Fortunately, we can still maximize your payout by moving forward with a personal injury lawsuit. This way, whether Geico is willing to settle your claim reasonably or the liable party does not have full coverage, we can still get the most out of your claim.
Get Help From a Top-Rated Car Accident Lawyer from Goldenzweig Law Group Today
Dealing with the insurance company is never easy, but it is often one of the best ways to recover compensation for certain types of damages after a collision. If the liable party has Geico, our team knows how to move through the claims process, negotiate with insurance adjusters, and challenge bad-faith insurance tactics.
If you hope to protect yourself from being taken advantage of and secure the insurance settlement you are entitled to, do not hesitate to contact a reputable Houston personal injury lawyer from Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC. Schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation today. You can reach us through our online contact form or by phone to get started on your claim as soon as today.
