People can file an auto insurance claim with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company by calling 1-800-225-2467, visiting the company’s website, or by using the Liberty Mutual mobile app. It is important for car crash victims to file a claim quickly after an accident (usually within 24 hours). A delay in timely submitting insurance claims may result in accident victims losing their right to pursue compensation for their injuries.
If successful in the claims process, claimants can receive payment for:
- medical bills and expenses,
- lost wages,
- lost earning capacity,
- property damage,
- out-of-pocket expenses (for example, if a claimant has to get a rental car because his/her auto is in the repair shop), and
- pain and suffering.
Note that insurance agents often fight car accident claims tooth and nail. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and adjusters have an interest in boosting their employers’ profits. For this reason, it is highly recommended that claimants contact a car accident lawyer for help with their claim.
A skilled personal injury lawyer can assist a client by:
- managing his/her medical care,
- obtaining evidence to identify all liable parties,
- negotiating a claim on the client’s behalf, and
- filing a car accident lawsuit if negotiations break down.
Our California car accident lawyers will explain the following in this article:
- 1. What should an injury victim do immediately after a car crash?
- 2. Can an auto accident victim speak with a Liberty Mutual claim representative?
- 3. Should claimants personally negotiate with Liberty Mutual insurance agents to settle a claim?
- 4. How can a personal injury attorney help?
It is important for car crash victims to file a claim quickly after an accident
1. What should an injury victim do immediately after a car crash?
Crash victims should seek out emergency medical care if they suffer any type of serious bodily injury.
With lesser injuries, an injured party should remain at the accident scene in order to obtain:
- the at-fault party’s insurance information, including his/her insurance policy number and the names of applicable policyholders),
- the at-fault party’s name and contact information, and
- the name and contact information of anyone that witnessed the accident.
If a car needs to be towed, the accident victim should call roadside assistance to arrange for towing services.
Upon leaving the scene of the accident, an injury victim should visit an urgent care center or make an appointment with his/her primary care physician. This is true even if the victim has no signs of an injury. Sometimes serious medical conditions can develop with no initial symptoms of harm.
The next action item is for the accident victim to file an injury claim with Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Company (which is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts). A person can file a car insurance claim by calling Liberty Mutual, toll free, at 1-800-225-2467. Parties can also file Liberty Mutual claims online or via the company’s mobile app.
2. Can an auto accident victim speak with a Liberty Mutual claim representative?
Yes. Claimants are free to communicate with insurance providers.
But they must know that insurers are in the business of making money. This means they will often fight claims tooth and nail and use a claimant’s statements out of context to either:
- deny his/her claim, or
- reduce the final claim payout.
As a result, claimants need to exercise caution in communicating with a claims rep, insurance agent, or Liberty Mutual claim adjusters.
If a person must speak with a rep after filing a Liberty Mutual claim, it is wise for him/her to:
- not guess or speculate as to facts,
- keep answers simple,
- avoid admitting any type of guilt,
- avoid giving a recorded statement,
- provide honest and truthful answers,
- refuse to sign anything until he/she consults with an attorney,
- refuse an adjuster to downplay injury or pain, and
- consult with a lawyer if there are signs of bad faith.
3. Should claimants personally negotiate with Liberty Mutual insurance agents to settle a claim?
It is usually preferred for claimants to have skilled accident attorneys negotiate car crash claims on their behalf.
An accident victim could have some success in negotiating a claim if they are mild injuries and the facts of the case are relatively simple.
However, note that most adjusters engage in special tactics to deny payment or reduce the final amount of compensation.
Personal injury lawyers are better situated to spot these tactics and stand up to aggressive adjusters.
4. How can a personal injury attorney help?
Personal injury lawyers are so important throughout the life of an auto accident claim.
For example, a personal injury attorney can interview injury victims to gather the facts of their case and assess their medical needs. If a serious injury, an accident lawyer can manage a client’s ongoing medical care.
Sometimes a lawyer can find additional policyholders who were liable for a single accident. Multiple policyholders could mean extra value in a case.
An attorney can also help gather critical evidence in a case and make sure it is presented to Liberty Mutual in a way that helps maximize compensation. For example, lawyers can take photos of painful injuries and make sure an insurance rep sees them.
A skilled personal injury attorney can also negotiate a claim on his/her client’s behalf. Lawyers know how adjusters work and they can spot tactics designed to reduce compensation or ones used in bad faith.
Finally, if Liberty Mutual denies a claim, an experienced lawyer can help file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
For additional help…
Call us for help!
If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident, we invite you to contact our law firm at the Shouse Law Group. Our attorneys provide both free consultations and legal advice you can trust.
We know how Liberty Mutual operates and we work tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation available for your case.