Negotiating a Car Accident Settlement

When you have been involved in a minor car accident, you may be worried that you will have to face a lengthy court case in order to resolve the issue and find a settlement between you and the other driver. The good news is that usually, a negotiation takes place between the at-fault driver’s insurance company and the other driver. Therefore, it is very unlikely that you will end up involved in a court case.

How do insurance providers settle claims?

In Georgia, it is required that you have car insurance when using a vehicle. Assuming that you are adequately insured, your insurance company will be able to do most of the hard work on your behalf.

There are two main systems that car insurance companies follow. The most common and traditional one is often referred to as the at-fault system, where the person who is considered to have caused the car accident must take responsibility. The person who was to blame needs to contact his or her insurance provider, and they will assess the situation.

The no-fault system recognizes the fact that even if you were partially to blame for an accident, you will still suffer and may lose wages as well as need to pay for medical expenses. In this case, you may be able to recoup damages regardless.

It is usually best to settle the claim through the help of your insurance company. However, if there is a prolonged dispute between parties or if you were not adequately insured, you may need to look into other options.