If you were injured in a car accident you may be wondering whether insurance will cover you medical bills and other related costs. You may also be wondering if it will be necessary to file a personal injury claim in order to be compensated for your losses.

As a FindLaw.com article explains, filing a claim with your insurance provider or the other driver’s insurance provider is one of the first things that need to happen after you are injured in a motor vehicle accident. 

When you file a claim with your own insurance company it is called a first-person claim. When you file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company it is called a third-person claim. Most drivers carry insurance coverage for third parties who are injured in car accidents.

The type of claim you file — first-party or third-party — will depend on what happened in your accident. For example, if you caused the accident in your own car, you will likely file a first-party claim with your own insurance company. However, if you were hit by a car while riding a bicycle, you would likely file a third-party claim with the other driver’s insurance company.

Once the claim has been filed, the insurance company will investigate. You could be asked to supply a lot of information such as the details of the accident and the names and contact information of any witnesses that were present. Once the investigation is complete, the insurance company will offer you a settlement check.

Unfortunately, though, it is common for insurance companies to offer settlements that are unreasonable low or deny claims altogether. At that point, a personal injury claim may be necessary. This is why it is so crucial to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

The job of the lawyer is to make sure that you are fairly compensated by the insurance company and any other parties who may be responsible for your injuries.

It is very important to take the correct steps following a serious car accident to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. That’s why one of your first moves should be calling a personal injury lawyer for advice.