Having a car accident is stressful enough without the added headache of dealing with an unruly insurance company. As an indication of just how onerous the process has become, CNN has reported, “Chances are good that you will be in the fight of your life to get the insurance company to pay all the medical costs you incur — even if the accident was no fault of your own.” Unfortunately, your pain and suffering is nothing more than statistics to most insurance companies who base your settlement upon prior similar offers in your area. While most modern carriers provide ample online resources, you should consider consulting an attorney if your car accident involves personal injury. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as calling Jake with State Farm.

Tennessee State Farm Auto Accident Claims

If State Farm is your insurer, you’re in good company, as they provide coverage to more car and homeowners than any other provider in the nation. At State Farm, approximately 35,000 claims are processed every day by one of their 18,000 agents. There are nearly 44 million outstanding auto insurance policies. In addition to auto and home insurance, State Farm also offers sport and leisure vehicle insurance, life insurance, supplemental health insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance. State Farm was founded in 1922 and is currently headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois.

When learning about filing a claim with State Farm, check out their secure website at https://www.statefarm.com/claims/file-a-claim. State Farm allows you to file a claim by logging into their website, using their mobile phone application, calling 800-782-8332, or calling your local State Farm agent directly. State Farm emphasizes that an agent is available to speak with you any time of day. If you file online or through their mobile app, expect to hear from a State Farm agent shortly. After filing your claim, you can track progress online. In making repairs to a vehicle, you’ll probably be using State Farm’s Select Service program to find a mechanic in their network.

As with any vehicle insurance claim, take care after the accident to ensure the vehicle isn’t damaged further. Of course, always take a few minutes to review your policy after an accident. If State Farm is your auto insurance provider, they will pay claims you are liable for. If someone files an auto accident claim against you, contact your local State Farm agent as soon as possible. When you’re ready to file a claim, make sure you have the names and addresses of witnesses and other parties, information about the damage to your vehicle, any personal injuries you suffered, and your policy number, if applicable.

To understand what your settlement with State Farm might look like, it’s important to understand the difference between special and general damages. General damages are those that we can easily put a dollar figure on such as lost wages, medical bills, and vehicle damage. On the other hand, general damages are for pain and suffering and are more difficult to quantify. In calculating what general damages you will receive, State Farm may apply a multiplier to your special damages based on the severity of your wreck, injuries sustained, recovery time, circumstances of the wreck, and other factors. Many insurance companies use a computer program called Colossus to calculate your settlement. However, State Farm is not one of them.

Be very cautious when giving information or a statement to an insurance company as they are looking out for their interest but not necessarily yours. If you suffered a personal injury as the result of a car wreck, we strongly recommend contacting an experienced personal injury attorney to determine your rights. You may be compensated for lost wages if you can’t work or for your pain and suffering if you suffered mental anguish. While it may seem difficult to put a dollar figure on mental anguish, an experienced Alabama car accident attorney can help make your case. It’s important to note that if you do suffer personal injury, you must file within two years to avoid being barred by the statute of limitations.

For a free consultation on your personal injury case, call or email us today.