Filing Allstate Auto Insurance Claims After a Crash
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you’ll likely file a personal injury claim to obtain compensation for your losses. However, the Allstate auto insurance claims process is rarely easy or straightforward. Although most insurance companies profess to “be on your side” and act “like a good neighbor” when you need help, their primary goal is to minimize payouts and maximize profits.
At Spetsas Buist, we understand how stressful working with insurance companies can be and the dishonest tactics they use to reduce the value of your settlement. Here, we discuss filing a personal injury claim with Allstate after an auto accident and how our experienced car accident attorneys can help you obtain fair compensation.
Understanding Florida Personal Injury Claims
It’s essential that you report any car accident to your insurance company and seek financial assistance through your own policy. When you familiarize yourself with your plan and deductible, you’ll better understand what to expect for compensation. However, if someone else caused your accident, you can file an accident claim to seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Tips for Strengthening Allstate Auto Insurance Claims After the Crash
Following a car crash, an insurance adjuster will contact you to discuss the incident and get your statement about what happened. You may be contacted by your own insurance company or one for the at-fault driver. If you’re able to move around after the accident, you can strengthen your personal injury claim by taking some simple steps, including the following:
Call the Police and Get a Police Report
Getting a police report is a crucial step in any injury case. The police report details what happened, when it happened, who was involved, and who the police placed at fault for the crash. Although police reports are generally not admissible at trial, they can be extremely helpful for getting the other side to settle your claim.
Seek Medical Attention Right Away
When you’re injured, your body often releases hormones that can mask pain and other injury symptoms. You may not know you’re hurt for hours or days after the accident. So, it’s important to see a doctor following the crash, even if you feel fine.
A doctor can determine if you’ve suffered injuries that don’t present right away. Additionally, having medical records and doctor notes documenting your condition establishes a connection between the accident and your injuries.
Gather Evidence at the Scene of the Crash Immediately
If you’re able, collect evidence from the scene, including photos and videos of the vehicles involved, your injuries, and road conditions that may have contributed to the accident. Get contact information for other drivers and any witnesses who stayed at the scene, and get insurance information from the other drivers involved.
Keep All Documents Related to Your Claim
You will likely need to share medical records, bills, doctor notes, photos and videos of the accident scene, the police report, and any information about missed work, including pay stubs.
File Your Claim As Soon As Possible
Evidence tends to disappear soon after an auto collision. Witnesses are hard to find, people forget details, and vehicle black box data can be overwritten. Therefore, it’s important to file your claim as soon as you can so that you can stack more evidence in your favor.
How to File a Florida Car Accident Insurance Claim With Allstate
Allstate allows you to file claims online or by calling 1-800-ALLSTATE, and both Allstate customers and non-customers can use their online system to track claims. You’ll need to provide the following information:
- The date, time, and location of the accident
- The names of all involved and their contact, vehicle, and insurance information
- Weather conditions at the time of the accident
- Photos of vehicle damage
- A copy of the accident report
- The names and badge numbers of officers who responded to the incident
Allstate will send an insurance adjuster to investigate vehicle damage, determine who is at fault for the accident, and estimate the cost of repairs. You should ask the adjuster if you must use certain repair shops. Allstate may pay the repair shop directly, or they may reimburse you for the costs of repair.
Don’t Jeopardize Your Allstate Insurance Claim: How to Talk to Insurance Adjusters
When an insurance adjuster calls you, they’re trained to get you to make statements that can jeopardize your personal injury claim. Because they want to minimize their compensation to you, they may use less than ethical tactics, so your statements can be misconstrued. Avoid making mistakes that may be used against you by following these tips for communicating with insurance companies:
- Don’t give a recorded statement.
- Don’t offer opinions or details about the accident. Provide facts only.
- Don’t admit fault.
- Don’t accept the first settlement offer.
- Consult an attorney before signing documents or settlement offers.
Allstate Auto Insurance Claims Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Allstate take to settle a claim?
To get a settlement for an injury claim, you need to have completed or nearly completed your medical treatment to properly assess the value of your injuries. Then, the adjuster for the claim needs the time to review the documentation to evaluate liability and damages. This process generally takes at least 6 months or longer, depending on whether we have to file a lawsuit and litigate the case.
How long does Allstate take to pay a claim?
The time it takes to get compensation in an injury claim will depend on factors like the insurance coverage available, the severity of your injuries, and the degree of fault of the person that harmed you. Property damage claims generally take much less time because the value of the damage is objective and relatively easy to quantify. Injury claims often take 6 months or more, while property damage claims may only take a month or less.
How do I email Allstate claims department?
You can email the Allstate claims department at Claims@Claims.Allstate.com.
How do I file a diminished value claim with Allstate?
A diminished value claim involves showing the difference between the vehicles value without collision history and vehicle's value after being in a collision. You can work with an appraiser or conduct the research on your own through Kelley Blue Book or another resource to establish value. Once you have established the value, you can submit that documentation to Allstate as part of your property damage claim. We help our injury clients with property damage claims as a courtesy to make the process easier.
How do I file a third party claim with Allstate?
You can file a third-party claim with Allstate by calling 1-800-ALLSTATE and providing the relevant information needed for the adjuster to evaluate the claim. You need to provide them with things like the driver's insurance information, any photos and videos of vehicles and vehicle damage, and the police report.
Is Allstate good at paying out claims?
Allstate is not the worst insurance company to work with, but in our experience, they're also not great at paying out claims. Like other insurance companies, they will typically do everything in their power to minimize payouts. This includes things like blaming you for your injuries and denying responsibility. However, it's our job to make sure these companies do the right thing, and we know how to fight their tactics and increase case value.
Can I file a claim online with allstate?
Yes, you can file a claim online with Allstate by using their online claims portal.
What is a claim owner at Allstate?
A claim owner is the person responsible for the claim. Sometimes, they're referred to as "adjusters" or "insurance adjusters." They may also refer to themselves as "claims representatives."
How do I file a claim against Allstate?
When you file a claim with the help of an attorney, we will send out letters of representation to Allstate to let them know that we are your lawyers. After that, they will assign a claim number to the injury claim and assign an adjuster to the matter.
How do I find out the coverage that is available under an Allstate insurance policy?
You can check your coverage through your Allstate portal or app. To get insurance information from Allstate regarding a third-party, we send out specific insurance request documents.
How do I check on my Allstate insurance claim?
If you file your own claim, you will have to check progress through the Allstate portal or app. Third parties can track claims via MyClaim.
Where do I email Allstate claims?
The Allstate claims email is Claims@Claims.Allstate.com. When we initiate an injury claim on behalf of our clients, we send out a letter of representation. Thereafter, we get a claims number and use that number in the subject line to make sure the proper adjuster gets back to us.