Geico Auto Insurance Claims

Most people need a car in Southern California. However, by law, it is required to obtain appropriate car insurance coverage. There are penalties that may be imposed if you do not acquire car insurance. If you are filing a Geico auto insurance claim after a car accident that resulted in injuries, it is important to understand the process and to consult a Los Angeles car accident attorney. At Sharifi Firm, we may be able to represent you in a lawsuit for damages.

In California, drivers must carry bodily injury coverage of at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. They can carry more. They must also carry at least $15,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage and $30,000 in uninsured coverage per accident. They must carry property damage liability coverage of $5,000. After an accident, you are not supposed to let the other driver know about your coverage limits, but you are supposed to exchange insurance information.

There are penalties imposed if a driver fails to maintain auto insurance coverage and gets into an accident. A driver can be held personally, financially liable for an accident victim's damages if they cause a car crash. However, as a practical matter, most people do not have significant assets that would allow you to recover compensation for your losses. People who do have significant assets usually pay for car insurance.

A claim is a demand for payment that is made under the terms of an insurance policy. If you make a claim on your own Geico insurance, it is a first-party claim. If you sued someone else who had Geico insurance, the Geico auto insurance claim would be a third-party claim. You can contact your own insurance company and report a car accident, and you will be required to follow certain steps to complete the claims process. You will need to give your insurer documents to support your claim and also provide information about passengers and witnesses. While talking to your insurer, you can ask questions about your policy, including whether there are any time limits for filing claims and submitting bills or additional information. You should also find out whether you will need to get repair estimates for the damage to your vehicle and whether a rental car is covered.

Generally, when you have Geico collision coverage, an adjuster provides an estimate of damages. This allows the policyholder to go to a body shop, give it the insurer's estimate, and get the car repaired. The policyholder usually needs to pay a deductible.

Some people try to avoid reporting accidents to their insurer and exchange money under the table to avoid an increase in insurance premiums or to be helpful to the other driver. However, if you do not report an accident to your own insurer, you are taking a big risk. After an accident, evidence fades very fast, and when you do not report the accident, your insurer does not have an opportunity to collect enough evidence to meet its duty to defend and indemnify you in the event that the other driver sues and makes a third-party claim. Sometimes a driver sues another driver even if they were more at fault for an accident.

Usually, if you have been significantly injured in an accident, you should retain a personal injury attorney rather than call the other driver's insurer and attempt to talk to them about the accident. In some cases, what you say can be twisted by the other driver to show that you believe that you were at fault in case the matter proceeds to litigation.

California follows the doctrine of comparative negligence. That means that a jury will determine the plaintiff's total damages based on the types of injuries suffered and also assign percentages of fault. The plaintiff's damages will be reduced by an amount equal to their degree of fault. Often, each party's insurer tries to obtain evidence to show that the other driver was at fault. This may include calling the other person involved in the accident and attempting to secure recorded statements, such as an admission of fault.

If you are injured in a car accident, you may need to make a Geico auto insurance claim. At Sharifi Firm, PLC, our experienced Los Angeles attorneys can provide knowledgeable legal representation. Contact us at (866) 422-7222 or via our online form for an appointment. We also represent victims in cities such as San Bernardino, Temecula, Rancho Cucamonga, Glendale, Covina, and Riverside.