If you are in a car accident, the first concern you may have is whether you have sustained personal injury. Your health should always come first above all else. There is a possibility that you have sustained only minor injuries or are uninjured. However, there may be property damage to worry about. Property damage consists of what was damaged because of the accident, whether it be the damage to your car, a phone inside your car, or whatever else that may have collided with your vehicle.
You would need to file a property damage claim to be compensated for your losses in an accident. Property damage is essentially anything damaged other than the human body. The following are some important things to know about property damage claims:
The amount of property damage in a car accident is a major factor in your insurance claim and will likely make up a large portion of the claim. Vehicle repairs generally take up the largest percentage of a car accident claim, but personal belongings can be damaged in a car accident and can be expensive as well, such as:
Essentially, anything inside the vehicle during the accident could, if damaged, count as property damage. To document these items, be sure to take photographs and videos of the damage you incurred in the accident, including clear and detailed views of the belongings that were damaged. Collect documents that will support your ownership of these items as well, such as purchase receipts, which will show the value of the items.
Finally, if you were driving with your pet inside the vehicle at the time of the accident, and the collision injured your pet, your pet’s injuries would be listed under property damage, not under personal injury. Be sure to keep any veterinary bills to file in the property damage claim.
There are some key things to know about filing a property damage claim. Consulting with a car accident lawyer before filing your claim can help answer any questions you may have and how to calculate your losses:
It is important to remember that you do not have to accept the settlement amount the insurance company presents to you if you do not agree with it. You can contact a car accident lawyer, and they can go over the details of your claim and can possibly help you receive more compensation.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, you may have not been injured, but you still will face dealing with property damage. An experienced College Park car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Duane O. King will investigate the cause of the accident and fight to secure the compensation for which you are entitled. Call us today at 202-331-1963 or contact us online for a free consultation. Located in Washington DC, Alexandria, Virginia, and National Harbor, Maryland, we work with clients in Prince George’s County, including Laurel, Beltsville, Adelphi, College Park, Greenbelt, Mitchellville, Woodmore, Greater Upper Marlboro, Springdale, Largo, Bowie, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Forestville, Suitland, Seat Pleasant, Clinton, Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, and Fort Washington.
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