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How do I get the most out of a car insurance claim?

My husband got into an accident recently and I want to make sure we get a fair settlement from our insurance. How can we get the most out of our claim?

avatar
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“If you want to get the most out of your claim, you’ll need to begin by calculating a fair settlement. If you’d like, you can
get a lawyer
to help you.
Once you’ve calculated a settlement amount, you’ll need to write a
claim letter
. In the letter, be sure to include:
  • Your full name and contact information
  • The date and location of your injury
  • A quick description of the accident
  • The name, contact information, and insurance policy number of the at-fault party
  • The date you wrote the letter
  • Your signature
Be sure to make a copy of your signed letter, too, in case you need to reference it in the future. Once your insurer receives your letter, you should receive a USPS green card as confirmation, which you’ll want to keep with your letter.
Depending on your situation, you may want to reject the first settlement offer. Since insurance companies lose money each time they pay for a claim, your first offer may not be as high as it should be. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to work with a good lawyer to navigate the legal intricacies.
In the meantime, you should take steps to keep your insurance low. Your monthly rate will likely spike after an accident, so use
Jerry
to make sure you’re still getting the best possible rate. The Jerry app can help you find and compare competitive quotes in minutes. If you’d like, Jerry will even help cancel your old policy for you!”
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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