When you’re involved in a car accident and suffering from painful injuries, you may be wondering about the Nationwide auto insurance claims process. You may be entitled to compensation under Florida law for things like medical bills, missed work, and future medical treatment. Although the process of bringing a personal injury claim can be challenging and time-consuming, we have a team of car accident lawyers that can guide you every step of the way.
Our experienced attorneys at Spetsas Buist understand how overwhelming the process of fighting insurance companies for fair compensation can be, especially when you have the added financial stress of medical treatment and missed work. The insurance adjusters and defense attorneys fight claims for a living, and that gives them a huge advantage over people who have no experience dealing with the insurance claims process. We can level the playing field and help make the process run smoothly by handling negotiations on your behalf and answering all your questions.
If you'd like to speak with an auto accident attorney at our law office, you can call us anytime at 321-LAWSUIT for a free legal consultation. We'll make sure you speak with a lawyer that can help you understand your rights and the process moving forward.
Also, if we can take your case, you don't pay us anything up front. We only get paid when we recover money for you. So, a call to our office is completely risk-free.
Filing a Claim With Your Own Insurance Company
You should report any car accident to your own insurance provider, even if you were not at fault and filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s company. You might be wondering why you should do this. In a no-fault state like Florida, personal injury cases are treated differently than in at-fault states. At-fault drivers are still held liable for property damage, but if you were injured, you have to seek coverage first from your own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy. All drivers are required to carry this coverage, and you can only pursue compensation from the at-fault driver if the costs of your injury exceed your PIP coverage (usually about $10,000).
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, filing with your own insurance might be able help if:
- The at-fault driver is underinsured. You can cover some of the costs of an accident with an underinsured or uninsured driver through your own policy.
- You have a car loan balance. Gap insurance can help cover the costs of a lease balance if your leased car is totaled.
What’s critical to remember is that you should pursue your claim as soon as you can to avoid losing crucial evidence. Whether your Nationwide auto insurance claim is successful will depend upon how strong your case is. The more evidence you stack in your favor, the more likely you are to get the result you want.
Filing Third-Party Claims
A third-party insurance claim is one you file against an at-fault driver’s insurance provider when you are the injured victim and not responsible for the crash. You will likely file a claim using the insurance company’s online claims center to provide necessary information.
Because the at-fault party’s insurer will want to investigate the accident to determine liability, it could take a long time to resolve your claim.
How to File a Nationwide Auto Insurance Claim
Nationwide offers two methods for filing claims: file online through their auto claim center or, if you’re a subscriber, call the phone number on your insurance card. Provide as much information as possible, and write down the claim number provided. An adjuster will call you to discuss specifics, schedule a car inspection, discuss rental options, and arrange for repairs.
If your claim is rejected, you can contact Nationwide directly, draft an appeal letter, and submit an appeal with the company.
What You Can Do to Strengthen Your Nationwide Auto Insurance Claim
Insurance companies want to pay injured victims as little as possible. So, they may delay and deny your claim at every step. There are a variety of reasons they use to hold up the claims process, including the following:
- Missing documentation
- Issues with your policy and coverage
- Disputes over liability
- Too much lapsed time since the accident
If you reach out to an attorney right away, you can make sure you have the evidence you need. Additionally, you'll have someone who can deal with the insurance adjusters and the defense team. You can strengthen your claim by following these steps:
- Gather evidence. Keep careful records of photos from the scene, contact and insurance information for those involved, contact information from witnesses, the police report, medical bills and doctor notes, and pay stubs (if you missed work).
- Seek immediate medical attention. Insurance companies and their defense teams often try to minimize people's claims because they didn't seek medical treatment immediately. Stressful events like accidents release hormones that can mask pain, sometimes for days and weeks. See a doctor immediately to rule out serious injuries and to create a timeline connecting your injuries to the accident.
- Follow your doctors' instructions. Make sure you do what your doctors tell you to do. Insurance companies use gaps in treatment to minimize claims. If you follow your doctors' instructions, you take away one of their strongest arguments.
- Get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible. Reach out to a lawyer at our office for a free consultation. That way, you know your legal rights and what you need to do to protect your claim. Also, when you get a lawyer involved early, you can gather and preserve critical evidence.
How Our Florida Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Whether you’re filing a claim for the first time or trying to appeal a claim denial, our experienced Florida car accident attorneys will help you deal with insurance adjusters and work through the legal process. We have years of experience dealing with insurance companies, and we can handle negotiations on your behalf. Let us help you avoid common mistakes and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Give us a call at 321-LAWSUIT. We offer free legal consultations with an attorney to people who have been injured in an auto accident. Also, we don't get paid unless you get paid.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Nationwide Auto Insurance Claims Process
What is the Nationwide Claims Phone Number?
The Nationwide claims phone number for auto insurance, commercial insurance, and property damage insurance is 1-800-421-3535.
How does Nationwide pay claims for personal injury?
Nationwide pays claims for personal injury like most other insurance companies. They gather information to determine liability (who is at fault) and damages (how badly someone is hurt). Once they review this information, they will generally engage in negotiations to try and settle the claim prior to your attorney filing a lawsuit.
How do I file a claim with Nationwide insurance?
If you're filing a claim for yourself, you can file using Nationwide's mobile application or calling the Nationwide claims phone number at (800) 421-3535. If you're working with us, we will reach out to the insurance company to let them know we are representing you. After that, the insurance company will communicate directly with our team.