In Light of COVID-19, We Are Still Open | Click Here For More Info
Being injured in an automobile accident can cause months – if not years – of pain, suffering, and loss of income. Several steps should be made after an accident, including working with insurance companies. What you may not realize, though, is that there might be more than one type of insurance you’ll be dealing with after your accident. To make the most out of your car insurance claim, it may be in your best interest to consult with a personal injury attorney.
Goodman Acker will help you determine whether you should file a first or third-party insurance claim to get just compensation for your Michigan car accident. In order to get started, it’s essential to have a better understanding of first versus third-party insurance claims.
A first-party claim is an insurance claim between the first party (the policyholder) and the second party (the insurance company). These claims are contractual and are contingent on the insurance policy’s specific language or contract. Basically, you’re asking your insurance company to pay you for losses that occurred under the cover of their contract. Claims can be filed for the following:
Your policy will specify what specifically you’re allowed to file a claim for based on your coverage. Your insurance company may end up paying up to your policy limits for damages.
Third-party insurance claims are claims that are filed against someone else’s insurance policy. These types of claims usually occur because you’ve been hurt in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, and they have the insurance coverage that covers third-party liability. Imagine you’re driving on the interstate and someone causes an accident in which you’re injured. In this case, you would file a third-party insurance claim. The most common type of third-party insurance claim is a liability.
Third-party insurance claims may also pay for losses and expenses that aren’t covered under your insurance policy. Examples of these include:
To determine whether you should file a first- or third-party insurance claim, you should look at who was at fault for the accident. In most cases, the party who caused the accident typically pays for damages. If fault can’t be immediately determined, you may need to file both a first-party claim and a third-party claim. An expert personal injury attorney can speed up the process and maximize your compensation.
Either type of claim begins when you notify the insurance company that there was an accident. They’ll assign you a claim number and assign you a claims adjuster. This is someone appointed to investigate the accident and losses. After they get all of the information they need, they’ll make a decision and either agree to pay you what you’ve asked for, deny your claim, or offer to pay you less than what you’ve requested. If you disagree with their decision, you may need assistance from a personal injury attorney to negotiate with the insurance company.
Some of these claims can be settled in a matter of weeks, while some claims with more on the line can take longer. The amount of time it takes to process claims depends on how much you’re asking for, the situation surrounding the accident, and whether or not you’ve hired a lawyer.
Some insurance companies try to get out of paying what they, by law, are supposed to. This type of insurance practice is referred to as bad faith. A few examples to help you recognize if this is happening include if the insurance company doing the following:
Goodman Acker P.C. is proud to serve our Michigan clients for all of their personal injury claims. There are various types of accidents where first and third party insurance claims might come into effect. We offer legal services for the following and more:
If you’ve been injured in an automobile accident, you may have the right to file a first-party or third-party insurance claim. Let Goodman Acker help you determine which is more appropriate for your situation. Reach out to our team of expert attorneys for your free, no-risk consultation today. Together, we can go over your case and start working towards the settlement you and your family deserve.
We have two convenient locations to serve you better. We have an office in Detroit at 17000 West 10 Mile Road, 2nd Floor, Southfield, and Grand Rapids at 1500 E Beltline Ave. SE, Suite 235. You can also contact us by phone at 248-971-4209 or online 24/7 by sending us a message.
We have been helping accident injury victims in Michigan win the maximum settlement for their injuries for 25+ years.
Take a look at what some of our previous clients have to say about the high caliber of the services we provide.
If you have been wrongly injured, we would be happy to review the specific details of your case to determine how we can help.