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How can I get more money out of a car insurance claim?
How do I negotiate more money from a car accident claim? Recently, someone was tailgating me and we ended up in a rear-end collision. My insurance company is barely covering the costs. I want to get more to accommodate for the time and money I’ve spent dealing with this.
Hana Sabah · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“I hope you’re okay and the damage to your car is minimal!
Other than the misfortune of having your car damaged, there’s also the headache of negotiating with insurance providers about your claim. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get more money out of a car insurance claim.
Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible: The first thing you should do is contact your insurance right away. This will present a more accurate recollection of the events that took place. The more accurate and the better you’re able to recall the incident, the stronger your claim will be.
Keep accurate records about the accident: You should keep an organized record of your accident in chronological order. From the police report and doctor’s visits to the car repairs and transportation receipts, file all that you have with your claim. Having these records readily available will help expedite your settlement.
Calculate a fair settlement: Before sending a demand letter to your provider, you must calculate how much you think your claim is worth. Take the following factors into account when arriving at your figure:
- The cost of medical care and related expenses
- If you were unable to work, the amount of income lost as a result of that
- Whether you were permanently or temporarily disabled or require long-term medical care
- Any pain, mental turmoil, or suffering that has occurred as a result of the accident
- The cost of repairs or replacement of damaged property
Send a detailed demand letter: In the demand letter, you should detail any medical treatment you received, ongoing health issues you have, how badly your vehicle was damaged, and other losses incurred as a result of the accident. When mentioning the amount you require, keep in mind that insurance companies will likely reply with an offer lower than what you initially claimed, so always aim between 25–100% higher.
Do not accept the first offer: Insurance providers want to maximize profit, so in most cases, the first offer they make will be too low. This is a tactic to see if you know what your claim is worth. Counter their offer by emphasizing your expenses and ask the insurance adjuster to justify their reason for their low offer.
Get everything in writing: Every interaction between you and your insurance provider should be written or recorded. Any offers or claims should be documented. If you reach an agreement, make sure it’s memorialized with a dated written contract. A
good insurance lawyer
should be considered during this step.If you feel like you’re not getting your money’s worth from your provider, then try out the
Jerry
app. It will milk out all the benefits from competing insurers, answer any confusing questions, and even find you a new provider (with a cheaper premium) in just seconds.”View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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