Dealing with the aftermath of an automotive accident is often like working through a complex, intricate jigsaw puzzle. First, there’s the immediate chaos of dealing with emergency responders and seeking medical treatment for injuries. Then, there’s the conversation that must be had with legal representatives. Of course, always looming in the not-so-far distance is the insurance company.
Working with the insurance company is challenging on its own, but the situation becomes a lot more complex when both parties have the same insurance company.
Here’s what you need to know if you have been involved in a car accident and the other party has the same insurance provider as you:
The Process Will Proceed As Normal
You don’t have to do anything differently because the other party has the same insurance company as you. You will still want to contact your company directly and begin the process of filing your insurance claim. If you feel that the claims process will be more complex given the circumstances surrounding the crash or you would feel more comfortable having an attorney on your side to begin the claims process, you should first contact a personal injury lawyer before working with your insurance company.
Your Deductible May Be Impacted Depending On Who Is At Fault
The major distinction between a crash that involves two parties with separate insurance providers and a crash that involves two parties with the same insurance provider is in the deductible. According to Auto Insurance Center, if you have been involved in a car accident and you are not at fault, you may benefit from the fact that the opposing party is represented by the same insurance company. Sometimes, you will not be forced to pay for your deductible, because the other party is represented by the same company. If the other party held an insurance policy from a different company, it’s likely that you would still have to pay for your deductible even if you were not at fault in the accident.
The Claims Process Won’t Go Any Faster
One of the most common misconceptions about an accident involving two parties who have the same insurance company is the belief that the claims process will go faster. Sadly, this is almost never the case. This is due to the fact that each individual party will have a separate adjuster from the same insurance company. Ultimately, the timeline for processing a claim and receiving an insurance settlement remains the same, even if the two parties are working with the same insurance company.
It’s important that you receive the compensation that you deserve, regardless of whether or not the other party has insurance from the same company as you. Rather than trying to work through the claims process on your own and settling for a less-than-satisfactory settlement, take the time to partner with a qualified attorney who will advocate for your needs. You can set up a consultation appointment today with an attorney from our personal injury law firm to discuss the specifics of your case.
To learn more about how the insurance policy of another driver impacts your case, read the next installment of our three-part series now.