back to articles | June 18, 2024 | Catherine Park

Categories: Useful Automotive Information

Make to Most of Car Insurance Claim in Florida

By knowing the basic facts on Florida traffic and insurance rules, you will have a better chance of getting paid fairly.

Flowers

There’s truth to the idea that Florida is the best state for driving, and for very good reasons. It’s where you will experience scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean you can’t find anywhere else on the East Coast.

However, you could still find yourself in a head-on collision with an uninsured vehicle or get side-swiped by a trucker drunk at the wheel. This is where car insurance becomes necessary. In this article, we look into some of the ways you can get a good auto insurance payout no matter the type of accident you got yourself into.

Be familiar with state rules

By knowing the basic facts on Florida traffic and insurance rules, you will have a better chance of getting paid fairly. As a no-fault state, Florida car insurance laws require all motorists to carry personal injury protection which pays out a maximum of $10,000. Regardless of who caused the accident in the first place, your insurer should be able to cover this amount.

Damages exceeding that threshold can be covered by additional policies, you reserve the right to take the matter to court and get the compensation you deserve. It’s also worth noting that Florida doesn’t require motorists to get liability insurance which pays for the damages they caused to others.

With this in mind, you may have to include liability insurance in your policy. Understanding these and more will help you devise a good strategy to get a good payout from your insurer.

Don’t rely on your insurance adjuster

Following an accident, your insurance provider may assign an adjuster whose job it is to find out the facts about the accident. Not only are they interested in what caused the accident, but they also want to figure out how much the company will pay based on the policy. Considering that they’re working on behalf of the insurance provider, an insurance adjuster may not give a fair estimate.

It’s safe to assume that they aim to reduce the amount you’re going to receive. If you think the estimate doesn’t reflect the actual damages you incurred from the accident, you can always dispute the adjuster’s report and negotiate for a fairer amount.

Add substance to your claims

Insurance companies often undervalue car accident claims on account of weak or insufficient evidence. Your insurer must help you recover what you’ve lost, but it could justify a lower payout if there are missing details. For this reason, make sure to document every cent that comes out of your pocket to pay for emergency care and other expenses that the insurer should reimburse.

Collect receipts and take photos of the accident along with testimonies from people who were on the scene. If your insurer still won’t guarantee a higher payout and insists on its initial offer on your claim, you can cut your losses and go straight to suing your insurer for underpaying or denying your claim. You can also go down this route if the insurer offers an amount that’s less than the condition of your vehicle.

Endnote

You’re never really safe when you're cruising down Florida roads. By knowing what to expect when you get hit by a reckless driver or involved in scenarios beyond your control, you will be able to leave the hospital financially satisfied.

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For some of the best rates on new and used car loans in Florida, myAutoloan.com is the place to go.