Richard S. Lundin
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Personal injury and family law attorney licensed to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia

 

Your first priority after an auto accident should be to schedule an appointment with a doctor to get medical care.  Cars come and go, but you only get one body and taking care of it should be your number one priority.

After that, it’s important to file claims and schedule an estimate of the damage to your car.  The insurance company for the driver who was at fault should also pay your towing and storage charges and arrange a rental vehicle while your car is in the shop or while you are looking for a replacement vehicle if your car was declared a total loss.

It's generally better to have the other person's insurance company pay for the damage to your car and provide you with a rental because it indicates that they're accepting responsibility. In addition, having the other side pay will save you from paying your deductible, which is money out of your pocket. We push very hard to get the other side to take responsibility and pay you for the damage to your car and provide a rental as quickly as possible.

Sometimes, the other driver's insurance company will take too long to accept responsibility. This can happen for a number of reasons: the other driver won't call back or claims the accident wasn't his fault or the adjuster's on vacation. If you have collision coverage, your own insurance company can pay you for the damage to your car. Your insurance company can also pay for a rental car if you have rental coverage. (You should check your policy and make sure you have both coverages.)

Unfortunately, if you use your own insurance company, you'll be responsible for the deductible, often $250 or $500. Your insurance company will refund it to you when they receive payment from the other person's insurer for the damage to you car.

Whether you go with the other driver's insurance or your own insurance company to pay for the damage to your car (which will depend on the specific facts of your situation), it's important to start working on your property damage claim as soon as you can after getting an appointment with your doctor.

If you’re getting the run-around, call us for a FREE consultation.  We’re happy to discuss your legal rights with you to make sure you get all the compensation you deserve so that you’re not suffering losses because of someone else’s negligence.