Filing Esurance insurance accident claims is not a difficult process – but getting the compensation you deserve based on the facts of your crash case may be. If you begin the claims process without understanding the tricks and tactics that insurers often use, you could hurt your case and fail to protect your legal right to seek a fair payout.
It is a good idea to speak with an attorney about your accident case as soon as your injuries allow, so you know what is at stake. Working with a personal injury law firm means that your attorney will take care of your claims for you, ensuring that you do not say or do anything to jeopardize your financial recovery.
Filing a Claim and Recovering Compensation Through Esurance
Esurance sells auto, home, motorcycle, and renters’ insurance policies online, direct to customers. Allstate owns the company.
The Investigation
When a driver with Esurance coverage causes an accident, you can file a claim based on their auto liability coverage. This will launch an investigation where the insurance adjuster handling the claim will determine fault and liability.
The Offer
If they determine their policyholder is responsible, they will value the claim using a software program that is common to the insurance industry. This value will likely be much lower than the settlement value an attorney puts on your case, if you consult one.
Negotiations
You or your attorney can counter-offer the insurer, which usually begins settlement negotiations. Most cases reach an agreement during this step.
Payout
The insurer will prepare a check only after you sign a release stating that you will not sue their policyholder over the accident. They will send the check to your attorney, who takes their contingency fees and forwards the rest of the balance to you.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-537-8185
Warnings About Navigating the Claims Process Without an Attorney
If you opt to file your claim and negotiate with Esurance without an attorney, you must understand that the insurance adjuster is working against you. They are not on your side. This is true of any insurance representative, even one from your own company. Their job demands that they pay out as little as possible for each claim, protecting the company’s financial interests.
The tricks and tactics they will likely use to reduce your settlement include:
- Not offering a fair value for pain and suffering damages
- Denying or undervaluing specific injuries
- Blaming part or all of the crash on the victim
- Using the victim’s words or actions against them
- Claiming that injuries are not as bad as the victim says they are
The best way to protect your legal right to a fair settlement is to work with a car accident law firm on your case. If you choose not to, it is imperative that you never admit fault, stick only to the basic facts of the case, and do not give a recorded statement.
What If Esurance Is My Auto Insurance Provider?
If Esurance is your insurer, you will need to notify them of your crash as soon as your injuries allow. You do not have to wait for an attorney to handle this, but you should be aware of what you say. Again, offer only the basic facts of the case.
You should speak with a lawyer if you suffered injuries and have any type of first-party medical injury coverage through Esurance or if you are considering filing a claim based on your collision policy, which may be a good idea in some cases. Doing this could allow you to recover compensation sooner.
If you only have property damage and you have collision coverage, Esurance will take care of your claim for you. However, you should still be aware of the value of your case and fight for fair compensation.
The Next Step Is Filing a Claim
You can file your claim by:
- Filing your claim online
- Using the Esurance app
- Calling 1-800-378-7262
If there is evidence that another driver caused your crash, Esurance will likely seek reimbursement of their money and your deductible through subrogation, a process that allows them to demand repayment from the at-fault driver’s insurer.
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Work with an Attorney to Get the Most Out of Your Auto Accident Claim
The best way to ensure that you get a fair payout based on your Esurance accident claim is to partner with a car accident law firm. Personal injury lawyers can navigate the claims process for you and or sue the at-fault driver if necessary. They generally work based on contingency fees, which means that you do not owe them any fees unless they secure money damages for you.
A personal injury lawyer can take care of your case while you recover from your injuries or get back to work. This is important because there is usually pressure to settle your claim quickly – not only do you have bills to pay, but some states have extremely short deadlines to decide if you need to sue.
For example, Louisiana only gives most accident victims one year from the crash date to begin a lawsuit against the at-fault driver under La. Civ. Code Art. 3492.
Morris Bart, LLC Offers Free Consultations and Case Assessments
You can learn more about your legal options for compensation during a free consultation with a car accident attorney from the Morris Bart law firm. We operate 15 locations in four states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.
Call (800) 537-8185 now to speak with a team member from the Morris Bart law office near you.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
