Navigating an injury claim with a big-name insurance company like State Farm may feel like an intimidating and daunting task full of legal complexities.
Fortunately, you do not have to face the insurer on your own and can hire a lawyer to handle your injury claim for you. With a knowledgeable car accident lawyer who has experience dealing with State Farm, you have better chances of achieving a successful outcome in your case.
“But do I really need a lawyer to handle my State Farm injury claim, or can I do it on my own and save on attorney fees?” you might be wondering right now. To answer this question, we will explain how a lawyer can benefit your claim.
What Is a State Farm Injury Claim?
State Farm’s website claims that the insurance company has provided customers insurance services for more than 100 years. This claim is correct, considering that the company was founded in 1922.
Currently, State Farm is one of the largest insurance companies in the United States, and it provides different insurance policy options, including life insurance, auto insurance, and home insurance.
Statistically speaking, State Farm is the leading writer of property/casualty insurance in the U.S. by direct premiums written. When an accident occurs, it is not uncommon for one or even both parties to be insured by State Farm. In that case, the injured party can file an injury claim to obtain compensation for their damages and losses up to policy limits.
- Example. If you are involved in a car accident with a driver who has State Farm’s auto insurance and that driver is at fault for causing the accident, you will most likely have the right to file a claim against the driver’s insurance policy and request compensation for the damages and losses you have incurred.
Steps in Handling a State Farm Injury Claim
The aftermath of an accident in which you get injured can be both disorienting and confusing. Many people who have just been in a traumatic event such as a car accident do not understand what steps to take next or how to handle their claim to receive compensation from State Farm.
Here’s a detailed guide on handling a State Farm injury claim to make sure you know what to expect in the claims process:
Step 1: Report Your Accident to State Farm
Begin by notifying State Farm of the accident as soon as possible. You must adhere to deadlines specified in your insurance policy and ensure that the claim is off to the right start. You can make a report by calling their claims service or file a report online using State Farm’s platform.
Step 2: Gather and Preserve Evidence for Your Claim
The next step is to start compiling all evidence related to the incident, including but not limited to:
- Photos or videos from the accident scene
- Witness statements
- Police or accident reports
- Medical records and bills related to the injuries sustained
You need evidence to build a solid claim, so you should always get help from a personal injury lawyer during this step. Remember that the sooner you can compile evidence, the better, as some evidence may become unavailable after some time.
Step 3: Have a Lawyer Evaluate Your Case
It is generally a good idea to consult a personal injury lawyer who can offer professional advice. This is true even if you are not ready to hire a lawyer yet, as many personal injury lawyers provide free initial consultations.
A lawyer’s legal experience in evaluating the claim can help determine the strength of your case and understand your best course of action.
Step 4: Submit a Demand Letter
Once you have all the necessary documentation and a good understanding of the value of your claim, you can proceed by submitting a demand letter to State Farm.
This letter should outline the details of the accident, the severity and extent of your injuries, and the amount of damages you seek, and include all pertinent evidence that substantiates your claim.
Step 5: Negotiate with the Insurance Claims Adjuster
At some point, you will enter negotiations with State Farm’s claims adjuster assigned to your case.
It is the adjuster’s job to settle the claim for as little as possible, so you shouldn’t take lowball settlement offers personally. Stand firm on your demands but remain open to reasonable compromises.
Step 6: Take State Farm to Court (if Necessary)
If you cannot negotiate a reasonable settlement amount with State Farm, you may need to consult with your lawyer about the possibility of filing a lawsuit and taking the matter to court.
This is often a last resort but sometimes necessary to get the compensation you deserve. If you and your lawyer decide that filing a lawsuit is the right move, you need to abide by the applicable statute of limitations in your state.
In Missouri, for example, the statute of limitations for initiating a personal injury lawsuit is five years from the date of the injury (MO Rev Stat § 516.120).
Step 7: Receive Compensation and Close Your State Farm Injury Claim
After reaching an agreement or receiving a court judgment, it’s time to finally receive your compensation. Once you recover compensation for the injuries and damages sustained, the claim process with State Farm will conclude, and you can move on with your life.
Challenges You May Encounter When Filing a State Farm Injury Claim
Unfortunately, handling a State Farm injury claim does not always go smoothly. If every claim filed with State Farm was easy and free of obstacles, no one would need a personal injury attorney to assist them through the claims process.
Almost every unrepresented person filing a claim with State Farm – or any other insurance company, for that matter – may encounter at least some challenges, including:
- Denial of your claim. One of the most common – and also frustrating – challenges of the State Farm injury claims process is having your claim outright denied. State Farm might reject a claim for various reasons, including lack of policy coverage or allegations of fraudulent claims. Even if State Farm denies your claim, you may still recover compensation by appealing the insurer’s decision. A lawyer can thoroughly review your insurance policy and understand the grounds for denial to effectively counter it.
- Unresponsive claims adjuster. The course of your claim may stall when the adjuster assigned to your injury claim fails to communicate timely. Unresponsive adjusters can delay the claims process, which can exacerbate stress and uncertainty. Persistent follow-ups and documented communication are key in these situations.
- Lowball settlement offer. Initial settlement offers from insurance companies can be disappointingly or even insultingly low, as these offers rarely align with the extent of your injuries and expenses incurred. Generally, most insurance companies – including State Farm – treat their initial settlement offer as the starting point in negotiations, so you should refrain from accepting the first offer unless you are 100 percent confident that it covers all your costs and losses.
- Disputes regarding the severity of injuries. It is not uncommon for State Farm to dispute the severity of a claimant’s injuries. The insurer may argue that the injuries are not as severe as claimed to lower the payout. When such disputes arise, a lawyer can bolster your claim and validate the seriousness of your condition by presenting detailed medical records and expert medical opinions.
- Complexities in the calculation of damages. Determining the full extent of damages should address not only immediate costs such as medical bills but also long-term impacts like loss of earning potential, ongoing medical care, pain and suffering, mental anguish, reduced quality of life, and other non-economic damages. People often require professional help from a lawyer to accurately calculate their damages.
- The pre-existing injury defense. State Farm may scrutinize your medical history for pre-existing conditions and attempt to attribute new injury symptoms to them. This strategy aims to reduce their liability for your current injuries. However, with a skilled lawyer on your side, you might challenge this defense by providing detailed medical evidence showing that the accident exacerbated a pre-existing condition or caused new injuries.
The list above is non-exhaustive and provides examples of some of the most common ways your State Farm injury claim may become more complicated or, in the worst-case scenario, hit a dead end.
That is why you need to hire a personal injury attorney to handle your injury claim and help you avoid the stress and complexities that come with trying to handle your claim on your own.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help With Your State Farm Claim
If you are thinking of filing a State Farm claim, you need to understand the various ways a lawyer can support you. If you work with a lawyer, you can expect them to do the following while handling your claim:
Evaluate the Merits of Your Case
A knowledgeable lawyer has the experience to review the details of your incident and assess the strength of your claim against State Farm. They will examine the nuances of your unique situation, determine what laws apply to your case, and advise what to expect from the outcome of your injury claim. With legal guidance early in the process, you can make informed decisions.
Formulate a Robust Legal Strategy
Your lawyer will craft a strategic approach tailored to the specifics of your case to improve your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome. They understand the tactics insurance companies use – or, to be more exact, insurance claims adjusters – to minimize the payouts to claimants and know how to fight back.
Collect Evidence to Strengthen Your Position
The evidence you present in your injury claim will directly affect its outcome. Without a lawyer, you will need to gather evidence on your own. You may not want to worry about this time-consuming and tedious process when trying to focus on your recovery and health. When you have a lawyer on your side, they will diligently collect all available evidence to build a strong case for you.
Submit Paperwork and Handle Communications with State Farm
Dealing with the paperwork involved in insurance claims can be confusing, so you may want to get a lawyer’s assistance in managing all necessary filings and correspondences to meet all procedural and submission requirements. This way, you can avoid unnecessary delays and claim denials.
Negotiate with State Farm
Insurance companies, especially companies as large as State Farm, are known for their tough negotiating tactics. Having a lawyer by your side ensures that someone is advocating for your best interests.
If your lawyer is a skilled negotiator, they will be equipped to challenge any unfair settlement offers made by State Farm and ensure that you do not settle for less than your injury claim is worth.
Assess Your Damages to Maximize Compensation
A comprehensive understanding of your economic and non-economic damages is necessary to ensure your settlement reflects the true value of your claim. The term damages refers to compensation you can collect in your claim.
A lawyer will evaluate all details surrounding your case, from immediate medical expenses to the long-term effects of your injury or loss, to fight for the maximum compensation that covers the full extent of your injuries and the impact on your life.
Represent You in Court
In the ideal world, your negotiations with State Farm should end in a mutually acceptable agreement that adequately compensates you for your damages and losses.
Unfortunately, we do not live in the ideal world, which is why some injury claims with State Farm may go to court. If this happens, you need a personal injury lawyer on your side who will guide you through litigation and represent your interests in the courtroom before a judge or jury.
Whether your claim is with State Farm or another insurance company, consult a St. Louis personal injury attorney.
