IS THERE A DEADLINE TO FILE A CAR ACCIDENT INSURANCE CLAIM?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you may be wondering if there’s a deadline by which you have to file your insurance claim. While it’s true that insurance policies and providers vary—and so it’s incredibly important to check your own policy—there is generally not a time limit.

The reason most people ask this question is simply that they’re worried that they waited too long. Maybe you were involved in a wreck last month, for instance, and you just got too busy to report it. Maybe you didn’t know your car suffered any damage, so you were just going to let it go, but now some damage is apparent and you want to look into your options. The same could be true for injuries.

Whether it’s been a day, a week, or a month, you typically can still file your insurance claim. However, the statute of limitations of an injury lawsuit is two years, so be sure you know that these are two very different processes.

Most experts advise you to file the claim as soon as you can. If the crash is one that warrants a police report, the police are going to want to know about it quickly. This report can help you if you’re seeking compensation.

Waiting too long can make it hard to find the evidence that you need. When trying to show who was at fault in the accident, evidence plays a big role when you and the other driver disagree. You absolutely want to get it in place as soon as you can.

If you did not act quickly, though, that doesn’t mean you’re entirely out of options or that you missed your chance, so be sure you know about all of the steps you can take in Pennsylvania.

Source: Answer Financial, “Is it ever too late to file an auto or home insurance claim?,” Chad Catacchio, accessed April 27, 2016