Report An Accident Claim To Geico

Geico is the second largest auto insurance company in the United States, providing coverage for more than 24 million motor vehicles. Whether you are insured with Geico or if you have been in an accident by an individual insured with Geico, you can bet Geico will want to pay as little money as possible to resolve your claim. Before filing a claim, educate yourself on the process to make sure your rights are protected.

When to report a Geico Claim

Reporting your claim to Geico does not need to be at the top of your priority list. Instead, it may be beneficial for you to first take a deep breath, get to a safe place, assess your injuries, document the scene, call 911, get medical treatment, rest, consult with a personal injury attorney and then call the insurance carrier once you get all your ducks in a row.

If you are filing a Geico claim against the other driver’s Geico policy, legally, you have 4 years to present your claim. We certainly don’t recommend waiting that long to report the initial claim, but it gives you an idea that waiting several days to obtain the important facts along with competent legal counsel is not a detriment to you.

If you are a Geico policyholder, and reporting the claim through your own policy, we recommend reporting the claim within 72 hours of the accident. If you get your “ducks in a row” sooner than 72 hours, then contacting Geico earlier on is appropriate.

Geico Contact Information To Report A Claim

 Below is Geico’s contact information to report a claim. HOWEVER, we caution you not to contact them just yet. Read the information below and call us for a free consultation at 561-266-9191. Even if you do not retain our services, you will be gifted with lots of free knowledge that will assist you throughout the claim process should you go at it alone.

1. Geico Website: https://claims.geico.com/ReportClaim#/
2. Geico Phone Number: 800-841-300
3. Geico Mobile App

 What Information Should Geico Give You

When you report a claim to Geico, they will want lots of information from you. They rarely share information back but you should push for answers to your questions. Here are 4 questions Geico should answer for you about your claim:

1. How much bodily injury liability insurance is available (if a Geico driver hurt you)?
2. How much uninsured motorist insurance is available (if you are a Geico policy holder hurt by another person)?
3. Has coverage been confirmed to apply to this case?
4. Has liability for the crash been finalized and who is blame placed on? (note, you can contest Geico’s findings).

 Should I Give A Recorded Statement When I Report A Claim To Geico

If you are not a Geico insured, you should NEVER consent to a recorded statement.

If you are a Geico insured, you must comply with Geico’s request for a statement since you have a contractual relationship with them, but you are permitted to delay the statement until you have proper legal counsel making sure the questions asked are appropriate.

What Information Geico Will Want From You

 Geico separates their claims process into 4 main categories: Policy Review, Crash Facts, Property Damage, and Injuries.

1. Policy Review: Before paying out any claims, Geico first checks whether the applicable auto insurance policy is in good standing. Geico will want to make sure both the driver and vehicle involved in the accident are listed on the policy. They will also check if there are any unauthorized residents/users of the vehicle and whether the vehicle is being used for work-purposes. If the vehicle was not being used consistent with the terms of the policy, Geico may decline the claim.
2. Crash Facts: Geico will ask the who, what, where, when and how of the car accident. Much of this information can be gathered from the Florida Driver Exchange of Information given out by the police at the car accident scene. A more detailed police report can also be obtained several days after the accident using this crash report link. At minimum Geico will want to know the names of the drivers/passengers, vehicle make, model and color, and license plate numbers. We recommend providing the bare-minimum as it relates to crash facts and wouldn’t give more detail than what is already written on the driver exchange or crash report during the initial call.
3. Property Damage: Geico will want you to describe the condition of the vehicle and the damage it sustained in the accident. They will want to know the location of the vehicle so they can setup an inspection and repair. This is usually fine to share.
4. Injuries: Immediately after the accident Geico will try to lock you in on your injuries. They will ask you what hurts. They will also want to know whether you were previously injured in any car accidents. Next, they will ask whether you obtained medical treatment and get a list of doctors you visited. It is okay to let them know whether you obtained medical treatment. We advise against speaking about your injuries soon after the accident. If you must, let them know you don’t feel comfortable speaking about injuries this early on without first getting medical attention and speaking with your lawyer.

Related to this topic you may find it helpful to read our blog on evaluating how much your car accident case is worth.

 Should I Accept Money or Legal Advice From Geico

Many insurance carriers swoop in at the beginning of the claim and attempt to offer you a small amount of money up-front. Please understand an injury settlement is a one-time deal. If you accept a $1,000 or $2,000 payment from Geico soon after the accident, it is likely that you forever signed away your rights to collect additional money. This is problematic because many injuries take days or weeks to fully manifest. It is not uncommon for spinal injuries to worsen over time. You don’t want to settle for less then full value of your injuries.

Your case is worth the most when you reach maximum medical improvement and concluded most of your major medical treatment. This is typically 6-18 months post accident. We wouldn’t recommend settlement prior to you reaching maximum medical improvement unless the settlement offered was the maximum policy limits.

 When & Why Should I Retain a Personal Injury Lawyer to Represent Me?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lnlcZHRKeA

 It’s smart to hire a personal injury attorney before you open an insurance claim. Many clients who try to handle their cases early on cause irreversible damage diminishing their claim value. Examples of things that need to be done right away include preserving vehicle black-box data, documenting the crash site, make sure the medical bills are being paid by the right insurance policy, make sure the initial doctor reports properly document your injuries, and refrain from divulging  negative facts about your case which the insurance carrier may not be required to know.

Representing yourself in your personal injury case may cost you time and money in the long term. Insurance adjusters are trained to coerce claimants to settle for less than the true value of their case. Furthermore, insurance companies like Geico regularly hire attorneys who look for ways to discredit claims and minimize the amount of compensation received. Securing the expertise of a competent and professional personal injury lawyer is generally a wise choice. The attorneys at Aronberg & Aronberg will stand up to insurance companies and negotiate fair settlements on your behalf. We have obtained millions of dollars from Geico since the inception of our law office.

The attorneys at Aronberg & Aronberg have over 63 years of combined experience of experience helping clients navigate the complicated process of reporting a claim to Geico and other insurance companies. We have obtained millions of dollars from Geico since the inception of our law office.

Call us for a free consultation. No fee unless we win your case. 561-266-9191.

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