A car accident is almost always a stressful ordeal, whether it’s a fender bender or a serious wreck. Depending upon the insurance company, filing your claim and collecting can add to the headache, as it can be tedious and frustrating. Unfortunately, it’s not an uncommon scenario for an injured party to receive a very low offer from the insurance company and then be passed around from claims adjuster to claims adjuster. If you feel your injury has been short-changed by the insurance company, you should strongly consider contacting a personal injury attorney. Fortunately, most insurance providers now provide ample resources online to help navigate the process. If you or the at-fault driver is insured by Progressive, chances are you’ll be in close contact with Flo and the other folks at Progressive.

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The first priority after a car accident—no matter how minor—is to check for injuries. Call the police as soon as possible after the wreck. Even though the authorities take notes at the scene of the accident, it’s important that you write down important details as well, including the other driver’s name, address, insurance provider and policy number. After the accident, move your vehicle to the side of the road and take care that the car isn’t further damaged, as subsequent damage can complicate the claims process.

To begin the claims process with Progressive, visit Progressive’s website at https://www.progressive.com/claims/process/ or call 1-800-274-4499. When preparing to file your claim, gather policy numbers, names addresses and other relevant information to help the process move along as quickly as possible. Progressive encourages you to notify them of the claim as soon as possible after the wreck.

After notifying Progressive of your claim, you’ll be contacted by a claims specialist, usually by the end of the day. The claims specialist will be able to answer your questions and walk you through the claims process. He or she will likely set up a vehicle inspection to assess the damage and provide you with an estimate of the costs. This is a good time to discuss any questions you may have about the process or what’s covered under your policy. Progressive is quick to note, however, that the estimate they provide is a reasonable expectation but not a guarantee and can change.

If the mechanic discovers additional damage, Progressive will re-inspect the vehicle and provide you with a supplemental estimate. In determining where to have your vehicle repaired, Progressive allows you to select between one of their Service Centers, a repair shop in their network, or your own repair shop. If you select a repair shop within their network, your claim may be processed faster.

In order to secure an adequate settlement from Progressive, it’s important to be familiar with general and special damages and how they’re calculated. Special 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, Progressive may apply a multiplier to your special damages based on the severity of your wreck, injuries sustained, recover time, circumstances of the wreck, and other factors. Many insurance companies use a computer program called Colossus to calculate your settlement. Progressive uses a software program known as COA to evaluate your claim. To determine their settlement offer, a Progressive insurance adjuster will input data about your case. COA will in turn spit out a recommendation based upon previous settlements in your area.

Be cautious when giving information or a statement to an insurance company as they are only looking out for their interests and not yours. Navigating a personal injury claim after a car accident can be a lengthy and difficult process and often requires the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. If your car wreck caused you to suffer physical or mental injury or has kept you from working, consider speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer. He or she can help evaluate your case and explain your options. Because personal injury claims cannot be brought more than two years after the accident, consult a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

For a free and confidential consultation on your personal injury claim, call or email us today.