Filing an Automobile Accident Claim with American Family
Car accidents, sadly, are a way of life. With six million accidents happening in the United States each year, chances are good that you’ll eventually have to find yourself filing a claim with an insurance company.
The problem is insurance companies aren’t motivated to make your life easier.
They’re motivated to make money.
They’re a Fortune 500 company with a revenue of over $12 billion in 2019. That doesn’t mean they prioritize your well-being.
In fact, in US News and World Report’s 2022 Car Insurance Review, American Family Insurance ranked last in customer service, claims handling, and most likely to be renewed.
So, if you do get in an accident with someone who has American Family Insurance, prepare for the run-around.
What You Need to Know
American Family Insurance didn’t become a Fortune 500 company by looking out for the little guy. They’re a billion-dollar enterprise because they work to not pay you what your accident is worth.
They’re used to confusing individuals and giving them the lowest possible deal to maximize their bottom line.
When filing a claim with American Family Insurance, you might want to think about getting a lawyer. Their track record shows that they’ll be working to make you take a settlement that is less than you deserve.
An attorney who knows the tricks insurance companies play will be worth their weight in gold.
Approximately 16,000 car wrecks happen every single day. When it happens to you, don’t be unprepared. With the right help filing a claim with American Family Insurance can be a painless ordeal.
The Five Steps to Follow Immediately After an Accident
A car wreck is disorienting, at best. Out of nowhere, tons of metal collide and you have to find a way to clean up the mess. Make sure you follow these five steps to set yourself up for success after the fact.
- First and foremost, if you or someone else in the accident has been seriously injured, seek medical attention immediately. A car can be repaired or replaced, but your health is irreplaceable.
- Generally, you’ll need to call the police. They’ll be able to establish a baseline of what happened.
- It may be hard to keep your head about you when you’ve just gotten out of a car wreck, but try to keep in mind you need to exchange insurance information. Most people have a smartphone, so take a photo of their insurance info and make sure you confirm their contact details and get a photo of their license plate number.
- The insurance info isn’t the only evidence you need to gather thought. Take stock of the scene of the accident. You’ll want photos of your vehicle, of course, but are there any skid marks? Debris in the road? Witnesses around who might be willing to attest to what they say? Businesses who might have seen something on a security camera? You’ll need all the evidence you can get to make sure you’re set up for success.
- After leaving the scene, make sure you contact your primary care physician ASAP. If not your primary care physician, an urgent care. The adrenaline of a car accident can make you think you’re fine when an injury is just waiting to pop up. Don’t get stuck with medical bills because you feel like you don’t need to go to the doctor right after!
Reaching Out to American Family Insurance
You’ll need to get hold of American Family Insurance in short order. But before you do anything, make sure you’ve got your paperwork in order.
And you’re going to have a lot of paperwork. Insurance information, repair expenses, medical bills, and so on.
Try to keep all of it close at hand when you contact American Family Insurance.
You can file a claim with AmFam a few different ways.
Before you contact the insurance company, you should contact an attorney. Insurance companies record the phone calls and usually want you to give a recorded statement about the accident and your injuries.
Since the onset of some motor vehicle accident injuries occur in the days following the accident, you may want to wait a couple of days before contacting the insurance company. Also, you will likely need a copy of the accident report, which can take a few days, before you speak to the insurance company.
Your best bet is talking to an attorney first, so you don’t say anything to the insurance company that you will regret later.
Contacting American Family Insurance
Try to reach out to American Family Insurance within a day or two. The longer you delay, the more likely you’ll be denied the right to compensation. Don’t give their adjusters the opportunity to keep money from you.
You can file you claim a few different ways.
- Call 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326).
- Using their mobile app.
- Logging onto https://myaccount.amfam.com/login.
When you contact them, you’ll want to make sure you have the following information close at hand:
- The date and time of the event.
- A brief description of what happened.
- Any photos of damage done to your vehicle or property.
- The insurance and contact information of any others involved.
If doing it online, they’ll be able to put you in touch with repairs or rentals while your vehicle is in the shop.
You’ll also get a claim number that you’ll be referencing throughout the process. Make sure to not lose it!
How to Speak with the American Family Insurance Adjuster
When dealing with an American Family Insurance adjuster, remember – “Family” might be in their name, but that’s just branding. They’re still looking out for their bottom line more than they’re looking out for you.
Adjusters aren’t your advocate – they work for AmFam and they’ll do whatever they can to make sure you’re as far away from the dollar amount you deserve as possible.
That is, after all, how they stay a billion-dollar company.
They might try to find you partially at cause.
They may only want to pay you a portion of what you truly deserve.
They may try to deny your claim outright.
Do not give them the excuse to do any of that.
You were in an accident and you deserve to get the money you’re owed.
When speaking with your American Family Insurance Adjuster, have all your evidence handy and try to keep the following tips in mind:
- No matter what, do not admit fault. That’s a one-way ticket to denial-ville.
- You don’t need to guess at what happened, so only say truthful statements that you’re sure of. Don’t speculate.
- To that end, keep your statements simple. Stay disciplined and don’t offer information they didn’t ask about. They’re looking for something to use against you.
- Never take the first offer. They may want to give you a quick settlement offer to make this problem go away. That’s not going to be your best offer.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help
Maybe you’ve been in a car accident before and know how to handle them. That’s up to you but be certain you’re leaving money on the table.
There are attorneys who are willing to be your advocate. Don’t miss out on being made whole because you wanted to go at it alone.
Think about it – our cars are integral to our lives, especially living in metro-Atlanta. An accident doesn’t just drive down a vehicle’s value – it keeps you from going to work or doctor’s visits.
If your car is totaled, you’ll probably be dealing with the stress of a new car payment. That is what this accident is stealing from you. Not just money, but stress and time.
With the help of a Dunwoody area personal attorney, they’ll be able to get your life back to normal sooner, rather than later.
Just imagine not having to worry about gathering evidence because your attorney has already talked to the police.
Imagine not needing to worry about having all the information for filing the claim, because your attorney has already done that, not to mention made sure your information is up to date.
You won’t have to negotiate with adjusters, because they’re already used their expertise to get you the best available offer.
And if you need to step up and fight against American Family Insurance in court, they’ll be able to find experts to clarify your case for a judge or jury.
Hiring an attorney isn’t required, but it’s vital if you want the best possible outcome for your accident. American Family Insurance isn’t on your side. You know who is on your side?
Nick Martin: Dunwoody’s Best Personal Injury Attorney
No one will fight American Family Insurance to make sure you’re taken care of like Nick Martin.
Filing a car accident claim with American Family Insurance can be a confusing ordeal, but Nick handles cases like this every single day. He’s got the experience necessary to get you the best possible outcome.
Nick Martin is one of Dunwoody’s most trusted attorneys who knows all the tricks the insurance companies might throw at you. He’s ready to fight on your behalf.
If you or someone you know has been in an accident, don’t wait. Time is of the essence. Contact The Law Office of Nicholas P. Martin today at (770) 450-6155 or sign up on this website for a free consultation. Nick Martin won’t let you get less than you deserve.
Nick enjoys helping the people of Atlanta with their personal injury and fair labor issues. When he’s not working, Nick can be found woodworking, competitive rifle shooting, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with his family.
- What to Do When You’ve Been Hit by a Car Walking? - March 21, 2024
- Dunwoody Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer - January 30, 2024
- Can I Fire My Georgia Car Accident Lawyer And Hire A New Attorney? - January 26, 2024