How To File a Miami Car Accident Claim With Allstate
January 16, 2023 | Sagi Shaked | Car Accidents
Filing a car accident claim can be frustrating and stressful. Allstate is a common insurance provider for Florida drivers. Therefore, it can be helpful to know how to file a Miami car accident claim with Allstate in case you are in an accident.
Filing a Miami Car Accident Claim With Allstate
The first thing to do after an accident, if it is safe to do so, is to call 911 to report the crash to the police. It is always best to have an official police report for a car crash to provide to the insurance company. The crash report provides most of the information you need when submitting a claim to Allstate.
Allstate encourages individuals to file claims through their mobile app or online. If you want to file a claim online, go to the claims page on the Allstate website. You can also call Allstate at 1-800-ALLSTATE (1-800-255-7828) to report a car accident.
Before beginning the claims process, gather the information you need to file a car accident claim with Allstate. A copy of the crash report the police officer gave you should have most of the information you need.
Allstate will ask for the following information when you file a claim:
- Your name and contact information
- Accident date and location
- Names and contact information of the other driver
- Description of the vehicles involved in the car accident
- The names and contact information for the vehicle owners, if different from the drivers
- The name and policy number of the insurance policy
If you do not have all the above information, do not worry. In most cases, Allstate can pull the information from their records if you provide the vehicle owner’s and/or driver’s names.
What Happens After a File an Insurance Claim with Allstate?
Allstate assigns an insurance adjuster to investigate the claim. The adjuster determines whether Allstate is liable for your claim. If so, the insurance adjuster gathers information regarding damages and determines how much your claim is worth.
However, you are not required to accept Allstate’s settlement offer. Instead, you can negotiate a higher amount to settle your claim. Most insurance settlement offers are for an amount that is lower than the value of your personal injury claim.
If the other driver caused the car accident, you could be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages. However, before you sign a settlement agreement or accept a settlement check, it is worthwhile to meet with a Miami car accident lawyer for a free consultation.
Signing a settlement agreement or other documents for the insurance company without a lawyer could mean a much lower settlement. Allstate knows this and might try to rush you to settle the claim before you talk with an accident attorney. Do not fall for this tactic.
Filing a Florida No-Fault Insurance Claim with Allstate
If you did not sustain serious injuries, you might be limited to filing a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim with Allstate. Florida’s no-fault insurance laws require that drivers have $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection car insurance. However, it does not require drivers to have liability insurance.
You do not need to prove the other driver caused the crash to collect no-fault insurance benefits. Therefore, your first step after a car crash is to file a PIP claim with your insurance company. If you have Allstate, you follow the same steps above to file your claim.
No-fault insurance should make it easier to receive money after a car accident claim. However, Allstate might fight your claim. For example, if you did not seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident date, Allstate could deny your PIP claim.
Also, Allstate could claim that you did not sustain injuries that require emergency medical treatment. If not, your benefits are limited to $2,500 instead of $10,000.
How Can I Protect My Rights When Dealing with Allstate for a Miami Car Accident?
The aftermath of a car crash can be overwhelming. It can be difficult to remember what to do. Things you can do to protect your rights include:
- Call the police immediately to report the car accident
- Never admit fault for causing the car accident, including saying you are sorry
- Seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries
- Document the accident scene by taking photographs and making a video, if it is safe to do so
- Ask bystanders and witnesses for their names and contact information
- Carefully document all expenses related to the accident by keeping copies of bills, invoices, and receipts
- Never agree to provide a recorded statement or speak on a recorded line
- Always seek legal advice before signing insurance forms or documents
- Hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your case
Remember, claims adjusters work for Allstate. Therefore, they protect Allstate’s best interest instead of yours. The insurance adjuster working on your case is searching for evidence the company can use to deny or undervalue your claim.
Hiring a lawyer can be the best way to protect your rights. A lawyer can:
- Handle all communications with Allstate and the insurance adjuster
- Investigate the cause of the crash to obtain evidence proving fault
- Fight allegations of contributory fault that could lower the value of your claim
- Document your damages and calculate the correct value for your case
- Negotiate a settlement agreement with Allstate that is fair given the facts of your case
- File a lawsuit and argue the case in court if Allstate refuses to agree to a fair settlement amount
You have the right to legal advice after a car accident. Allstate has a team of professionals working to protect it from liability. You deserve to have someone working on your behalf to get you the money you deserve for a car accident claim.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Miami, FL
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Miami, FL and need legal help, contact our Miami car accident lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers
20900 NE 30th Ave Suite 715
Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191