Table of Contents
What will my car insurance cover? What does liability Insurance pay for? Will my health insurance pay my doctor’s bills? What is “subrogation”? What should I tell insurance adjusters who are calling me? What insurance information do I need to give my attorney? What should I do if the insurance company isn’t communicating with me?

Questions about making an insurance claim for injuries and damages, dealing with insurance adjusters, and protecting your legal rights

What will my car insurance cover?

In your own insurance policy, the Policy Declarations page is the quickest way to understand your benefits after a collision.

Look for sections on Personal Injury Protection, Collision Coverage, Liability Coverage and Underinsured/Uninsured Coverage.

 A Guide to Understanding your Insurance Policy

If you were in a crash caused by someone else, then you will need to file a claim with that driver’s insurance company.

What does liability Insurance pay for?

Liability coverage is the bare minimum of auto insurance, and is required by law if you own and operate a car in Washington.

If you were in a car crash caused by someone else, that person’s liability insurance is supposed to pay for your medical bills and other damages.

Your own liability insurance does not cover your injuries, or damage to your vehicle, unless the other driver’s coverage is not sufficient.

Will my health insurance pay my doctor’s bills?

Yes, but only after your Personal Injury Protection has been exhausted.

If your health insurance does pay for medical care related to your injury claim, you may need to reimburse them out of proceeds of any settlement or verdict.

The same is true for your Personal Injury Protection: the carrier will be entitled to reimbursement. There are some exceptions to reimbursement.

We will work with you and any lien holders to maximize your part of any settlement or verdict.

What is “subrogation”?

If your own car insurance company pays your bills and expenses after a crash, they can try to recover their costs from the insurance company of the person who caused the crash.

This complicated process is called subrogation. It is a process to reimburse your insurance company and medical insurance carrier for your success in obtaining a verdict or settlement.

If you plan to agree to a settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you need to let your own insurance company know first.

If you have an attorney, they will deal with the insurance adjusters on your behalf.

What should I tell insurance adjusters who are calling me?

If you are a Coluccio Law client, you don’t have to say anything. We will talk to the insurance companies on your behalf.

What insurance information do I need to give my attorney?

Initially, we will want the name and contact information for any insurance adjusters who have contacted you.

We will also need a copy of your insurance cards, and any policies you have.

What should I do if the insurance company isn’t communicating with me?

It depends on where you are in the claim process.

If you have filed a crash claim with your insurance company and haven’t received a claim number or heard from an adjuster, you need to contact them again to make sure the claim was processed.

If you filed a crash claim and received a claim number, then you should be able to check the status of your claim via the insurance company’s website, main phone number, or through the assigned insurance adjuster.

But if the insurance adjuster isn’t responding to calls or emails within a few business days, you may need to call and politely ask for the adjuster’s supervisor. If this problem continues, consider sending a letter detailing your attempts to reach the adjuster and their failure to respond.

If it is the other driver’s car insurance company that isn’t responding to you, you may need to speak to an attorney.