Auto Accident Lawyer
Accidents happen. They occur every day, everywhere. At some point in your life, you may be the victim of one, or labeled at-fault.
If you caused an accident, you’re probably feeling angry, upset, and disappointed. Accident attorneys know you’re dealing with a lot – you likely have car repairs of your own, maybe some injuries you’re nursing, and facing stress as you wonder how much your insurance rates may suffer from this ordeal.
Though you may feel defeated about insurance rates, you don’t have to. There are steps you can take to get your insurance rates back on track.
Own up to the Accident
If you caused a minor accident, you may be considering whether it’s worth filing a claim. But not so fast. Some policies require you to report anything that may result in a future claim. If you don’t, you could be out of luck with coverage.
Some damage, and especially medical injuries, may not be visible immediately. Things may surface over time. If you think there is a chance you could need your insurance policy in the future, it’s best to notify them right away.
Ask for Forgiveness
If your accident warrants a claim, explore your policy’s forgiveness rules. Insurance companies know better than anyone that accidents are sometimes unavoidable. And many more of them now offer accident forgiveness under varying circumstances.
If it’s your first crash, you may automatically be given a free pass and won’t see your premiums change at all. In some cases, you may need to be with the insurance carrier for a certain number of accident-free years before you can take advantage of forgiveness policies.
Some may expand their requirements to include no moving violations for a set period of time.
Go Back to School
Driver’s education isn’t just for beginners. It can also be used to prove you’re committed to becoming a safer driver, thus possibly helping to reduce your insurance rates.
A driving course may be viewed as a positive step toward being a more careful driver. Insurance companies may not advertise this though. You may want to consider taking initiative and signing up for a class. Submit your completed certificate to your insurance company for consideration in your case.
Increase your Deductible
Your insurance premium is the amount you pay every month to receive coverage. Your policy deductible is the amount of money you pay out of pocket before the insurance company pays your claim. Let’s say your deductible is $500 and your car repairs are $1,500. That means you’ll pay your $500 deductible and the insurance company will then pick up the balance of your bill.
The deductible and premium work opposite of each other. So if you’re willing to pay a higher premium each month, that would lower your deductible. If you’re willing to pay a higher deductible in the event of an accident, then you’ll pay less on your premium each month.
Deductibles often range from $250 to $1,000 dollars. If you raise your deductible to $1,000 it could save 20%, 30% or even 40% on your premium every month.
Call for Experienced Help
An auto accident lawyer Memphis, TN trusts knows how to negotiate with insurance companies and will advise you on the best course of action for your case as well as take care of all of the details along the way.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Darrell Castle and Associates, PLLC for their insight into car accidents.