Baxley Maniscalco Attorneys At Law
If the Accident Wasn't My Fault, Should I Still Report It?
Yes, you should report the collision to your insurance carrier and provide them with a copy of the accident report. Don’t make any statements beyond notifying them that the collision was not your fault and providing a copy of the accident report.
Your insurance carrier should assist you with the process of getting a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired or replaced. They may also go ahead and pay the cost of the repair or replacement of your vehicle, and then seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company at a later date.
This benefits you by eliminating delays in getting you in another vehicle and ensuring that you are not without transportation for any length of time while the at-fault insurance carrier makes their determination about accepting liability in the case.
Will Reporting an Accident That Wasn't My Fault Make My Rates Go Up?
Alabama differs from most states in personal injury claims. Here, even minor fault in an accident can bar you from recovering any damages under contributory negligence law. This makes it harder to sue for compensation, potentially leading to fewer lawsuits and lower insurance payouts for insurers.
However, this doesn't necessarily translate to lower premiums. Alabama insurers might factor in the potential for higher costs if you're the at-fault driver in an accident, potentially balancing out any savings from fewer lawsuits.
Opening a Claim With the At-Fault Driver’s Liability Carrier
To open a claim with a liability insurance carrier for car damage and personal injuries, you will need to follow these steps:
Contact the insurance company: The first step is to contact the insurance company to report the accident and request coverage for your damages and injuries. You can usually do this by calling the insurance company's customer service number.
Provide basic information about the accident: You will need to provide the insurance company with information about the accident, including the date and location of the accident and a copy of the accident report.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement About the Circumstances of the Collision
Never give the insurance company a recorded statement. They have the needed information from the accident report to make an initial determination about liability in the vast majority of auto collisions.
Asking to take a recorded statement is a calculated move to see if they can trip you up and get you to admit that you may have caused or contributed to the accident in some way.
In Alabama, if you were even partially at fault in causing the collision, you cannot recover anything from the other driver, even if that driver was much more at fault than you were. This is known as the doctrine of contributory negligence and can be a significant bar to recovery for many injured plaintiffs in the state of Alabama.
It's worth noting that you may need to file a claim with multiple insurance companies if the accident involved multiple vehicles or parties.
Do I Have to Do This Myself or Can an Attorney Do It for Me?
Cutting through all of this red tape is one of the major benefits of having an attorney represent you after a car accident.
An attorney can start working on your claim the very same day an auto collision occurs. There are a lot of benefits to this approach. The attorney will know how to preserve all of the needed documents and evidence to prove your claim.
The attorney can also immediately contact all of the insurance companies involved, put them on notice of the accident, and instruct them to stop calling you. This may sound like a small issue, but we’ve had clients receive more than ten calls per day in the days immediately following an accident.
Pushy insurance adjusters will try to get injured parties to accept a quick settlement before they’ve even had time to fully assess and appreciate the full extent of their injuries. This is a strategic choice by insurance companies. If they pressure a person into a quick settlement before they’ve had a chance to properly consult with their primary medical providers or a knowledgeable injury attorney, that person will likely accept less than 10% of the actual value of their injury claim.
Insurance companies often offer to “pay your medical bills.” This is a trap. Personal injury cases after a car crash are about a lot more than what the emergency room or urgent care charged at your initial visit. You will have a claim for pain and suffering, lost wages, and other items of damages due to the effect the collision had on your life.
Reporting an Auto Accident: How to Contact the Liability Carrier
List of Auto Insurance Carriers and contact information to report a claim
ALFA
ALFA is a regional insurance company that serves customers in Alabama and other states in the Southeast. If you need to report an insurance claim for an auto collision in the state of Alabama, you can contact ALFA at the following phone number:
-
ALFA Claim Reporting: 1-800-964-2532
You can also report a claim online by visiting the ALFA website and following the prompts to access the online claim reporting form.
It's important to note that you should report your claim as soon as possible after the accident occurs. Delaying the report of a claim may affect your coverage or cause problems with the claim process. You should also be prepared to provide information about the accident, including the date and location of the accident, and a copy of the accident report. You should confirm that you were injured but do not give any additional details about your injuries.
State Farm
To report a claim to State Farm after a car accident in Alabama, you can do the following:
Call the State Farm claim number for Alabama: 800-SF-Claim (1-800-732-5246). This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
You can also report your claim online through the State Farm website.
GEICO
To report a claim to GEICO after a car accident in Alabama, you can do the following:
- Call the GEICO claim number for Alabama: 1-800-841-3000. This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
- You can also report your claim online through the GEICO website.
USAA
To report a claim to USAA after a car accident in Alabama, you can do the following:
- Call the USAA claim number for Alabama: 1-800-531-8722. This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
- You can also report your claim online through the USAA website.
Nationwide
To report a claim to Nationwide after a car accident in Alabama, you can do the following:
- Call the Nationwide claim number for Alabama: 800-892-8877. This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
- You can also report your claim online through the Nationwide website.
Allstate
To report a claim to Allstate after a car accident with injuries in Alabama, you can do the following:
- Call the Allstate claim number for Alabama: 1-800-ALLSTATE (1-800-255-7828). This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
- You can also report your claim online through the Allstate website.
Progressive
To report a claim to Progressive after a car accident in Alabama, you can do the following:
- Call the Progressive claim number for Alabama: 1-800-776-4737. This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
- You can also report your claim online through the Progressive website.
Farmers
To report a claim to Farmers after a car accident in Alabama, you can do the following:
- Call the Farmers claim number for Alabama: 1-800-435-7764. This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
- You can also report your claim online through the Farmers website.
Liberty Mutual
To report a claim to Liberty Mutual after a car accident in Alabama, you can do the following:
- Call the Liberty Mutual claim number for Alabama: 1-800-225-2467. This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
- You can also report your claim online through the Liberty Mutual website.
Travelers
To report a claim to Travelers after a car accident in Alabama, you can do the following:
- Call the Travelers claim number for Alabama: 1-800-252-4633. This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
- You can also report your claim online through the Travelers website.
American Family
After a car accident in Alabama, you can report your claim to American Family promptly.
You have three options:
- Call 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326)
- Contact your local American Family agent.
- Report your claim online through the American Family website.
The Hartford
To report a car accident claim after a collision in the state of Alabama to The Hartford, you can do the following:
- Call The Hartford claim number for Alabama: 1-800-243-5860. This is a 24/7 claims hotline that you can use to report your claim and get assistance.
- You can also report your claim online through The Hartford website.
Don't Navigate Insurance Claims Alone
Dealing with insurance claims after an auto accident can be overwhelming, especially if you're dealing with injuries and vehicle damage. At Baxley Maniscalco Injury Attorneys, we understand the complexities of insurance processes, and we're here to guide you through every step.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let our experienced team handle the intricacies of your insurance claim. Whether you're unsure about reporting the accident to your insurance carrier or need assistance opening a claim with the at-fault driver's liability carrier, we're here to advocate for your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Don't face insurance companies alone – reach out to us now and let us fight for you.