Chicken Little said, “The sky is falling” one too many times. When the sky falls on your car just one time, the resulting damage to your vehicle can be significant. Fallen debris accidents present several unique issues that you do not experience with most other types of vehicle accidents. First, there is not another driver involved in the accident.
Second, you have to rely on witnesses to bolster your insurance claim. However, there is one thing that a fallen debris accident shares with other types of car accidents.
You have to know the top five things to do for submitting a persuasive auto insurance claim.
First Step: Collect Evidence
An incident involving fallen debris requires the presence of a law enforcement agency, even if the debris did not hit anything. A team of police officers have to cordon off the area where the debris feel to prevent any subsequent fallen debris from hitting motorists and pedestrians.
When fallen debris hit your car, a police officer will complete a detailed report that acts as the evidence you need to submit a legally valid auto insurance claim.
The police report will include several photographs that display the damage inflicted on your vehicle, as well as any shots of the accident scene that presents clear images of the road and weather conditions. A police report will also present the statements made by witnesses, which is especially important if at least one witness can verify the origin from where the debris fell.
Medical Evidence of Personal Injuries
If you were inside your vehicle at the time debris rained onto the street, you might suffer from a wide variety of injuries that include deep muscle bruises and cuts all over the body. To receive fair compensation for all your injuries, you should seek immediate medical attention at the closest healthcare facility.
Your doctor should document every injury by taking clear photographs, as well as completing a comprehensive report. Make sure to attach copies of every medical bill and record to your auto insurance claim.
Taking Care of Auto Repairs
Even small debris can wreak havoc on your vehicle. Objects that fall from multiple stories above the ground carry a tremendous amount of acceleration, which means you might be looking at auto repair costs that exceed $1000.
Ask your insurer to recommend an auto mechanic. With a recommendation, your insurance company will be more likely to approve your claim to cover the costs of auto repairs. You also might be able to receive a generous discount on services.
Work with an Accomplished Personal Injury Lawyer
A fallen debris accident involves plenty of anecdotal evidence that your insurance carrier might question. A state licensed personal injury attorney will be your advocate when the time comes to negotiate an insurance settlement. If your insurer questions any of the anecdotal evidence, you lawyer will present a compelling argument to validate the witness accounts of the fallen debris accident.
Filing a Claim in a Timely Manner
There is a clock running on your car insurance claim, and an experienced personal injury attorney will ensure the clock does not run out. Your lawyer will file the all the legally mandated paperwork long before the statute of limitation expires on the submission of an auto insurance claim.
Schedule a free initial consultation with a highly rated personal injury lawyer to submit a convincing claim to your insurance company.
