If you were recently injured in a car accident and you or the party liable for your injuries is covered by the American Automobile Association (AAA), you can pursue a claim. By doing so, you could recover compensation for your medical bills and other damages. How long it takes to settle a AAA insurance claim depends on factors like the severity of your injuries and the strength of your evidence against the policyholder.
Generally, it could take several weeks or months to secure a settlement. However, you have a limited amount of time to proceed with a lawsuit, so it's best to act quickly. A lawyer who has handled similar cases will know how to overcome the challenges associated with insurance claims. Your lawyer will build your case and manage all aspects of the insurance claim against AAA.
How do You File an Insurance Claim With AAA?
The process of filing an insurance claim with AAA involves several steps. To seek compensation from your or another driver's AAA insurance policy, you must:
- Prepare your claim. You will need proof of your damages, including medical bills for your injuries and vehicle repair or replacement estimates. These documents will determine the amount of compensation you could receive.
- Contact the insurance provider. After the accident, you'll need to inform the insurance company about the collision and your intent to file a claim. You can also inquire about the required paperwork and any applicable deadlines.
- Complete your claim forms.Include all the documents supporting your claim as requested by your insurers, such as a police report or a death certificate if it's a life insurance claim.
- Supply the information your insurance provider requests.Gather all the information related to your claim, like medical reports, eyewitness statements, and copies of all bills related to the accident, and provide them to the insurer upon request.
All this can seem overwhelming if you're still recovering from your injuries. Know that you don't have to handle the claims process alone—you can hire a car accident attorney to handle these tasks on your behalf.
What Could Delay an Insurance Settlement?
Although each insurance claim is a unique situation, these typical factors could delay the process:
- Low settlement offers:You might reject AAA's initial settlement if it's too low and doesn't accurately address your damages. Back-and-forth negotiations might delay the settlement even further.
- Errors and miscommunications:If you provide false or inaccurate information when filing your claim, it can add complications and slow down the claims process.
- Claim validity: If there are questions regarding your claim's validity, it can drag out negotiations or even lead to claim denial. For example, the insurer may suggest your injuries aren't as serious as you claim or that the accident didn't cause them.
An attorney can prepare you for these and other potential obstacles to keep your AAA claim moving forward.
How Can You Speed Up an Insurance Settlement?
Insurance claims involving AAA take a while to be settled, but there are a few steps you can take to speed up the process, including:
- Be prompt in filing your claim.After an accident, you should file your claim as soon as you can and provide all the necessary documentation for the insurer to begin processing.
- Avoid speculating about the collision. It's important to let the insurer perform its own investigation into what happened. Speculating could cause confusion in your claim.
- Understand the extent of your damages. The more information you have about your damages, the easier it will be to recognize when a settlement offer is fair or undervalues your claim. It will also ensure your initial compensation demand is as accurate as possible.
Again, hiring an attorney can also help you keep your insurance claim on the right track while also protecting your rights and advocating for your financial recovery. Your lawyer will handle communications with the insurer to ensure you provide enough information without jeopardizing your claim.
Be Mindful of the Deadline to File a Lawsuit
Time is a critical factor in any personal injury case because each state limits how long you have to sue for damages. This is known as the statute of limitations, and the exact filing window varies by state—and sometimes, by accident type.
Even if you want to secure an out-of-court settlement, you may need to file a lawsuit if the deadline approaches. Otherwise, you lose any leverage when negotiating with the insurer. In addition to representing you in negotiations, an attorney can determine the best time to file a lawsuit and take your case to court if necessary.
Contact the Dolman Law Group for a Free Case Review
To limit delays in your insurance claim after an accident, consider seeking the services of a car accident lawyer. Enlist our team at Dolman Law Group to fight for your damages and handle any potential delays to your AAA insurance claim. Call us today for a free consultation.