Ever wondered what happens if you share the SAME insurance company as the at-fault driver? What happens when multiple aspects of your claim comes from the same company? Watch this video for some helpful tips on how to navigate this scenario.
Here are the highlights:
-The company has different interests legal duties to consider according to the different policies at play — your policy and the at fault driver’s policy. These interests can be adversarial, so YOUR policy and the AT-FAULT DRIVER’S policy should be considered as occurring in different universes (even though they are encompassed by the same company).
-Make sure there are TWO adjusters you are dealing with for your injuries. One adjuster should be assigned to your first-party PIP claim which pays your medical bills as you get treatment. The second adjuster should be assigned to your bodily injury claim, which is your claim for damages against the at-fault driver as a result of the driver’s negligence.
-The PIP adjuster and bodily injury adjuster should not be talking to each other or sharing information.
-Most communication, if any, should be with your PIP adjuster, to ensure they have the information they need to process and pay your related medical bills.
-Once you have the two claim aspects and their assigned adjusters identified, you can put the bodily injury adjuster on the back burner while you focus on getting the care you need. You have 3 years from the date of the injury to resolve your bodily injury claim against the at-fault driver, or file a lawsuit to preserve that claim.
-Different rules can apply to the property damage claim for repairing your car or totaling out the vehicle. More to come on that.
As always, be sure to consult with an attorney about your specific situation, because every case is different. Our recommendations and guidance on how best to proceed may vary according to the factors in your particular case.
Lauren Dayani is the lead personal injury attorney at Dayani Law Firm. She offers free consultations and speaks honestly about your options after an injury. Send her a message below or call directly for a consult at (206) 777-5627