How To File a Car Accident Claim With Farmers Insurance

Of all the different auto insurance companies motorists have coverage with, Farmers Insurance is up there on the list as one of the more popular insurers Chicago area residents select. Why do motorists purchase this coverage?

For one, having insurance is mandatory per Illinois law. Second, they do so because it helps them cover their or someone else’s accident-related expenses if they get hurt in a crash. 

So, if you have this coverage and you want to know how to file a car accident claim with Farmers Insurance, keep reading. 

Starting an Auto Accident Claim With Farmers Insurance 

There are four primary ways to let Farmers know about your accident, which is essentially what starting a claim entails. According to Farmers Insurance’s information about how to file a car insurance claim, you can do one of the following to report the collision: 

• Contact your local Farmers agent with whom you initially set up coverage with 
• Call the Farmers Claims Center at 1-800-435-7764 
• Log into the Farmers mobile app to file the claim 

• Visit the Start Claim online tool on the Farmers’ website to notify your insurer of what happened 

Information To Have Handy When Filing a Car Crash Claim With Farmers Insurance 

As part of the claim submission process, it’s best if you have the following information handy: 

• The crash report 
• Name and contact information of all involved drivers 
• Names and contact information for anyone who witnessed your wreck 
• The name along with the address or phone number of any physician, urgent care, or hospital you visited after your accident 
• Your insurance policy number 
• Your driver’s license number 

What To Expect When Filing a Claim With Farmers Insurance 

When you call to report your accident to your insurer, the automated system will likely route to an insurance adjuster if you call in. Otherwise, if you report the claim online, through the app, or your local agent, you can expect an insurance adjuster to follow up with you soon thereafter. 

You can expect the adjuster to ask: 

• When and where the car wreck occurred 
• What vehicle you were driving when the crash happened 
• For you to recount how the accident occurred 
• About your activities preceding the crash and following it  
• Whether you, your passengers, or the other party/parties involved suffered any injuries in the crash, and, if so, about the nature of them 
• If you or anyone else involved in the car collision received treatment from paramedics at the scene or took an ambulance to the hospital (and which one) 
• If you sought medical attention after the crash for your injuries and what your treating physician’s name, diagnosis, and prognosis is 
• If your car sustained any damage in the crash, and if so, details about what type 
• Whether there are any witnesses to what happened 
• If you took any photos or video footage at the scene (or someone else did) or soon thereafter (of the weather, traffic, crash damage, injuries, etc.) 

Keep in mind that they’ll likely be recording what you say or, at the very least, listening closely and documenting everything you say. They may use any revelations you make in making liability determinations, in other words, when determining whether to deny or pay on the claim. So, watch what you say. 

How Soon After Your Crash Occurs do You Have to Make a Claim With Farmers Insurance? 

There is no specific timeline within which this auto insurance company requires you to file a claim. So even if you file months or years down the road, that’s acceptable to them. That doesn’t mean you should put off filing a claim if you’re planning to do so, though. Why? 

A 2-year statute of limitations applies to car accidents resulting in a personal injury or wrongful death, and a 5-year time limit applies to property damage cases. If you don’t file the claim within these established time frames, you’ll forever lose your right to do so. 

Also, another reason you shouldn’t wait to report your accident to Farmers Insurance is that you run the chance of memories of witnesses being fuzzy and other evidence not having been preserved, which could make it challenging for Farmers Insurance to investigate your car accident claim, perhaps resulting in its denial. 

When To Consider Speaking With an Attorney Before Filing a Farmers Claim 

Illinois is a modified comparative fault state, meaning you’ll likely be ineligible to recover compensation for any lost wages, medical bills, or other crash-related expenses if you’re 51% or more liable for your crash. 

As mentioned above, fault or liability is important to insurance adjusters. Denying it keeps money in their pockets instead of having to make payouts. This is why we encourage you to watch what you say to insurers. It can affect your ability to recover compensation. 

This is also the reason why you should consult with a Chicago car accident attorney like ours before making a claim. A lawyer can apprise you of your rights, remind you of the importance of just sticking to the facts when reporting what occurred, and encourage you to be mindful of interactions with insurance adjusters. We can even handle communication with adjusters for you. 

Thomas Law Offices has been serving Chicago residents’ personal injury legal needs for many years. We’re primed and ready to assist you as you file a car accident claim with Farmers Insurance. Reach out to us for help now. Your initial consultation with an attorney here is completely free.