Regardless of the weather, the winter holiday season is a dangerous time to be on the road. Increased traffic, distracted drivers, and those who have had too much to drink can make getting your family home quite the adventure. When accidents happen, it is important to know how to handle them. If you have been injured in an accident in which you were not at fault, you are likely eligible for compensation by filing a personal injury claim.
First- and Third-Party Claims
In the vast majority of cases, these types of claims will be handled by the two insurance companies of the parties involved in the accident. Filing for coverage with your own insurance company—if you were at fault or equally at fault as the other driver—this is known as a first-party claim. If you are filing for coverage with the other driver’s insurance company, this is known as a third party claim. Not surprisingly, filing a third-party claim is more complicated and difficult to administer because you often do not have direct contact with the point person at the insurance company.
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