Our Seasoned Florida Car Crash Attorneys Explain How to File an Accident Claim With State Farm
If a car accident has left you injured and trying to cope with the stress of medical care and car repairs, dealing with the insurance company is likely the last thing you want to do. The process of filing an injury claim with an insurance company can be overwhelming and frustrating, but it’s also essential that you file a claim as soon as possible. The sooner you file, the sooner you can receive an offer for the compensation you will likely need for mounting medical bills.
The skilled car accident attorneys at Spetsas Buist can help. If you have a policy with State Farm Insurance, or if another party in the accident has State Farm Insurance, we have the information you need. Here, we discuss personal injury claims, how to file one with State Farm, and how to deal with insurance adjusters.
How Personal Injury Insurance Claims Work
Insurance claims are formal requests on the part of a policyholder to seek compensation for losses or damages covered by their insurance plan. For auto insurance policies, such claims might include compensation for injuries or property damage.
As a policyholder, you can only file a claim for losses or events that your policy specifically covers. You should read your plan information carefully to become familiar with the kinds of claims you can make. You should also check your deductible and the requirements for it, as you may be required to pay costs up to the deductible amount before your insurer will provide coverage.
To file a claim with State Farm, you’ll have to fill out their required claim paperwork to report the accident. State Farm will then assign an insurance adjuster to investigate your claim to check its validity and determine its value.
How to Strengthen Your Florida Accident Injury Claim with State Farm
Many insurance companies are focused on minimizing how much they have to pay out. Accordingly, a State Farm insurance claims adjuster may try to minimize your injuries or property damage. Here are some steps that can help you protect your rights and obtain maximum benefits:
Gather Evidence at the Scene
The most essential first step after an accident is to ensure the safety of you and others involved. If you’re safely able to move around after calling 911, use your time at the scene to gather evidence. Take photos and videos of the vehicles and surrounding area. Collect insurance and contact information from all involved parties and any witnesses. Take note of any traffic cameras to seek footage of the accident.
Seek immediate medical attention
Even if you did not require emergency medical services, you should seek medical care ASAP after an accident. Stressful situations like crashes often release hormones that prevent pain signals, so you may have injuries that you won’t notice until days later. Beyond your own medical safety, seeing your doctor ASAP also demonstrates your injuries are serious and establishes a connection between those injuries and the accident.
Keep careful records
Keep all medical documents from your treatment, including medical bills, medical records, and doctor’s notes. Keep track of the photos and videos you took at the scene, and keep any records from work, including paystubs and communication about how injuries affect your ability to perform on the job. The insurance adjusters at State Farm will need proof of your injuries and losses to substantiate any fair offer to settle your case.
File your insurance claim promptly
Don’t wait to file your claim and risk forgetting crucial details. Ideally, you should file a claim within 24 hours of the accident. Below, we'll explain what you need to do to file an insurance claim with State Farm after your auto accident.
How to File a State Farm Insurance Claim After a Florida Auto Accident
There are three ways you can initiate a claim with State Farm for auto accidents, each designed to provide options based on your preferences and circumstances.
State Farm Online Insurance Claims Center
State Farm's insurance claims center online provides a streamlined digital experience for filing your accident claim from any computer or device with internet access. The online portal walks you through each step of the claims process, allowing you to upload photos, documents, and evidence directly to your case file. This method is ideal for those who prefer handling matters digitally and want to file their claim outside of business hours, as the online system is available 24/7.
State Farm's Insurance Claims Mobile App
The State Farm mobile app offers the convenience of filing your claim directly from your smartphone at the accident scene or anywhere else. The app features built-in tools that make documenting your accident easier, including the ability to take and upload photos instantly, track your claim status in real-time, and communicate with your adjuster through secure messaging. Many policyholders find this method particularly helpful because it allows them to handle everything from initial filing to final settlement without ever visiting an office or making a phone call.
State Farm Insurance Claims Phone Number
Call the State Farm claims phone number at (800) SF-CLAIM (800-732-5246) to talk directly with a State Farm representative. This should get you immediate personal assistance and give you the opportunity to ask questions as you file. The claims specialists can guide you through the process, help you understand what information you'll need to provide, and can often give you an initial claim number during the call.
This traditional method remains popular among those who prefer verbal communication or have complex situations that benefit from real-time clarification and support. Sometimes, calling the State Farm claims number directly is easier because you have someone to help walk you through the process.
What Happens After You File a Claim?
After you file a claim, State Farm will investigate the details of your case. Once you've filed, you should get an estimate for vehicle repairs. In our experience handling auto accident cases, State Farm typically offers three claims payment options for subscribers:
- They will pay the shop directly;
- Direct deposit the money into your own account; or
- Send you a check.
In addition to filing a claim, State Farm suggests you notify your insurance agent as soon as possible. If you have your insurance agent's information, reach out to them after you get into a car accident as soon as you can.
Dealing With a State Farm Insurance Claims Adjuster: How to Maximize the Potential Value of Your Florida Accident Claim
Whether you’re dealing with State Farm as a subscriber or a non-subscriber seeking compensation from an at-fault driver, you need to approach interactions with insurance companies with caution. Our experience handling auto accidents has given us unique insights into this industry and how insurance companies operate. Here are some tips for talking to insurance adjusters so you can protect your interests:
Be Cautious About What You Say
State Farm's insurance adjusters may ask tricky questions in the hope that they find ways to use what you say against you. Take the time you need to think before responding to questions. They will probably want to take a recorded statement that records your conversation with them.
You should have a lawyer to guide you before you speak with insurance adjusters. This way, you know someone is protecting your rights and looking out for you.
Do not admit fault
Keep your responses focused on the facts. Even if you think you may share fault, let the State Farm insurance adjuster investigate and determine who is responsible for the accident. Anything you tell them that could be construed as fault will come back to haunt you later.
Offer substantive documentation to support your claim
Provide all information and documentation requested by the State Farm claims adjuster, including any evidence you gathered from the scene. However, you should always submit any photos or videos you took at the scene to your attorney first. After you call the State Farm claims number, they will request documents from you.
Do not provide a recorded statement without a Lawyer
It’s possible you may say something that the State Farm's claims adjusters will use against you to minimize the value of your claim. The State Farm insurance adjusters want to take a recorded statement for their benefit, not yours.
Wait to sign legal documents until a lawyer reviews them carefully.
Whether State Farm sends you a settlement offer or other documents, avoid signing without making sure you understand the full scope of what you’re agreeing to. Obtaining legal representation is important to help you with this.
Don’t accept the first offer
Insurance companies often make low settlement offers to start, so it’s important to negotiate. Insurance companies like State Farm are rarely going to pay full and fair value for a claim unless they are forced to. That's where our firm can be of tremendous help to you.
Contact an Attorney at Our Office to Help You With Your State Farm Insurance Claim
It can be easy to make mistakes while dealing with insurance adjusters, especially since they have far more experience dealing with claims than you likely do. That’s why the legal skill of a car accident attorney can be very beneficial.
Our firm handles personal injury and wrongful death claims for victims of auto negligence. Additionally, if you are our client for your injury case, we can help you with the property damage side of that case as well. That's a service we offer to our clients to thank them for choosing us to help them with their personal injury claim.
Call us anytime at 321-LAWSUIT, and we will make sure you speak with a car accident lawyer at our office. We will not put you on the phone with a customer service representative or a call center person. Lawyers evaluate cases at our law firm.
You don't have to worry about paying us anything up front. We get paid only if you get paid, and our payment comes from the settlement. We also offer free consultations, so a call to us is risk-free.