Posted in News on October 10, 2018
Allstate is one of the leading insurance providers in the United States, and many policyholders find themselves needing to file claims against their Allstate policies every day. Filing an insurance claim is rarely a pleasant experience, but Allstate has a solid reputation for fair and reasonable settlements, and it offers its policyholders several convenient options for filing insurance claims.
Our firm understands the process of submitting an injury claim to an insurance company can be a bit intimidating, so we’ve included outlined what you can expect below. To know discuss the details of your case in particular, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation and initial case evaluation with one of our experienced Billings car accident attorneys.
Starting Your Claim
Allstate offers policyholders a free mobile app they can use to file claims anywhere, anytime. They also have a 24-hour toll-free claim number that policyholders can call. Regardless of the method you use to file your claim, you should have as much information as possible ready to go when you open the app or pick up the phone. You may need to have a police report from your recent car accident or other documentation to support your claim. If you are filing for a car accident, photos of the damage to your vehicle and any injuries you sustained can greatly support your claim. Once you file your claim, Allstate will provide you with a claim number and begin investigating your claim.
Remember, insurance companies need to make sure claims are valid before paying settlements. Insurance companies lose money when they pay out on claims, so an insurer has an incentive to look for reasons to reduce or deny a claim settlement. An Allstate claims adjuster may need to contact you for additional information about your claim, and Allstate representatives are available whenever you have questions about a claim in process.
Estimate and Settlement
Once Allstate confirms you have a valid claim, it will offer you an estimate based on your claimed damages and your coverage. A claims adjuster will help you understand this estimate based on your policy. If you are filing a claim against an at-fault driver’s insurance policy with Allstate, the agent may need to clear up any issues with the at-fault driver during the subrogation phase after the claimant receives his or her settlement. Depending on the type of claim filed, Allstate may pay for a repair directly at an auto shop or send the claim payment to your bank account.
If you encounter pushback for your claim, or a claims adjuster denies your claim and you do not understand why, an experienced insurance attorney may be able to help. Allstate has a strong reputation, but individual adjusters can and do make mistakes or engage in bad faith tactics to reduce claim amounts. An attorney can help you file a stronger initial claim with a formal demand letter and help minimize the chances of pushback from a claims adjuster.
How Can an Attorney Help?
If you are filing a claim against an at-fault driver’s policy, the insurance carrier will want proof that the claimed damages are the policyholder’s fault and not your own. An attorney will help you handle correspondence with insurers and resistance you experience as well as explore additional legal remedies that may yield more compensation for your losses.
When a claimant suspects bad faith, an attorney can issue a letter claiming bad faith to the insurer to help speed up a resolution. In most cases, insurance companies do not want to deal with the potential fallout and expense of a lawsuit, so a bad faith claim may lead to results very quickly.
Allstate policyholders who do not understand their coverage should take time to meet with Allstate insurance agents who can better interpret their coverage. Most insurers offer policyholders the opportunity to add more types of coverage or expand existing coverage, but make sure to remember that additional coverage will incur higher premiums and be more expensive to maintain.