Do Auto Insurance Claims Expire?

​Auto insurance claims are a process by which you, as a policyholder, can seek reimbursement for losses or damages you have incurred due to a car accident or other covered event. The claims process typically involves:

• Reporting the incident to your insurance company.
• Providing documentation of the loss or damage.
• Working with the company to determine the appropriate level of reimbursement. 

Typically, auto insurance claims have a deadline, known as the statute of limitations, where you should file a claim before the set deadline. If a claim is not filed within the statute of limitations, you, as the policyholder, may be barred from recovering any reimbursement for your losses or damages.  

Factors Affecting Statute of Limitations 

1. Age 
   A person's age should often not be considered after an accident. However, how long it takes to file a claim following a car accident will differ if a minor was involved in the collision. The time restriction does not start to run for a minor who has been in a crash until after the child is 18 years old because most laws are meant to safeguard minors' rights as much as possible.
    
2. State Laws 
   The deadlines for filing claims for property damage and personal injury may vary by state. In some states, the window for submitting a claim for property damage may be longer or shorter than the window for filing a claim for bodily injury. It would help if you studied the pertinent state law in your state to determine the appropriate time limit for your claim. 
   
   
3. Early Settlement  
   You may believe that the time allotted for filing a claim for a car accident is lengthy. However, concluding a claim after an accident may drag on for months or even years. In most situations, the objective should be to settle before filing a lawsuit. As soon as possible after the accident, you should begin trying to resolve their claim. 
   
   A lawsuit should only be brought after all efforts to settle the dispute outside of court have been exhausted. You cannot merely consider the time it takes to put together a case and file it with a court while considering the statute of limitations insurance claim.
   
   Instead, you should also consider the numerous months of treatment that frequently follow a collision, the time it takes to compile the medical bills and records, and the negotiations that follow your request to settle your case for a specific sum. 

Bottomline   
Auto insurance claims do expire, with a time limit known as a statute of limitations. You should file your claim as early as possible after a car accident to avoid missing the deadline, which may vary depending on your place of residence, the type of claim you are filing, and other factors. 

At Appletree Insurance, we do our best in making sure that our clients are well-protected with affordable and comprehensive policies. We make sure to go the extra mile to help you with your needs. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at (603) 881-9900 or CLICK HERE to request a free quote. Topics and coverage discussed in this article are not guaranteed, consult with your agents to determine what your policy does and does not cover. We are more than happy to help!