A car accident in Miami can change your life in seconds. One moment you’re driving through an intersection, and the next a negligent driver runs a red light and crashes into your vehicle. The impact leaves you shaken, injured, and facing medical bills, lost wages, and the cost of a damaged car.
When the time comes to contact the insurance company, the process is often more complicated than expected. If State Farm is involved, whether it’s your own insurer or the at-fault driver’s, their focus will be on limiting payouts, not on covering the full cost of your recovery. That is why knowing how to file a claim with State Farm is so important. With the right steps, you can protect your rights and pursue fair compensation. The process starts at the scene, where the information you gather will shape the strength of your claim.
Gather Necessary Information at the Scene
Before you contact State Farm, the most important step is to gather the information and documentation you will need to support your claim. Florida law also requires reporting certain crashes to law enforcement.
- Call law enforcement if the accident involves injuries, death, or property damage of $500 or more. This is required under Fla. Stat. § 316.066.
- Seek prompt medical care even if you “feel fine.” Under Fla. Stat. § 627.736, you must receive treatment within 14 days to qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. PIP generally provides up to $10,000 in coverage for medical expenses and lost wages, though this may not cover all of your losses.
- If you are able, take photos and videos of the accident scene, damaged vehicles, traffic signals, and any visible bodily harm.
- Exchange insurance information and driver’s licenses with the other driver.
- Get the names and contact details of witnesses.
- Request a copy of the police report, which documents who was involved and helps establish liability.
Once you have this documentation, you’re ready to report the accident to State Farm.
Report the Accident to State Farm
In Florida, you always begin by filing for PIP benefits with your own insurance company, no matter who caused the accident. If State Farm is your insurer, you will file a first-party claim under your policy for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
If the negligent driver is insured by State Farm and your injuries later meet Florida’s serious injury threshold under Fla. Stat. § 627.737, you may also have the right to file a third-party claim against their policy. The serious injury threshold generally means a permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. That type of claim can allow you to pursue compensation for pain and suffering, future medical expenses, and other damages not covered by PIP.
You can report a State Farm claim in three ways:
- Online: File a claim through the State Farm website. Upload documentation such as accident photos, repair estimates, and medical records.
- Mobile App: The State Farm mobile app allows you to start the claims process directly from your smartphone.
- Phone: Call the 800 number from State Farm’s Customer Care contact page to speak with a representative who can guide you through filing.
Prompt reporting under your own policy keeps your PIP benefits moving. If your injuries later meet the threshold for a third-party claim, you and your car crash lawyer in Miami can then pursue damages from the negligent driver’s State Farm policy.
Provide Detailed Information During the Claim Process
When reporting your claim, be prepared to share:
- A description of how the car crash occurred and why you believe the other driver was negligent
- The extent of damage to your vehicle and any property damage
- Information about your medical care and medical expenses, including hospital visits and rehabilitation
- Contact details for any witnesses
State Farm will assign an adjuster who reviews the accident report, inspects damage, and may request medical records. While you should cooperate with reasonable requests, be cautious with recorded statements. Insurers are entitled to documentation that verifies your injuries and treatment, but adjusters sometimes overreach by requesting unrelated records to limit your claim.
Once the investigation is complete, State Farm will typically make a settlement offer.
Negotiating a Settlement with State Farm
After the adjuster’s review, State Farm may propose a settlement. This is the amount they are willing to pay for your losses.
Here are some tips for handling settlement negotiations:
- Review the Settlement Offer Carefully. Make sure the offer covers the full scope of your damages, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Rental car expenses
- Pain and suffering and other non-economic damages
- Don’t Be Afraid to Counteroffer. If the first offer undervalues your case, you can present evidence of your medical records, lost income, and long-term care needs to support a higher demand.
- Consider Legal Advice. For complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, or disputed liability, a Miami car accident lawyer can negotiate with insurance adjusters, prove negligence, and pursue maximum compensation.
If settlement discussions stall, you may need to evaluate whether filing a personal injury lawsuit is appropriate.
Be aware that Florida follows comparative negligence under Fla. Stat. § 768.81. This law applies when pursuing a third-party claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer and does not affect no-fault PIP benefits. If you are partly at fault, your financial compensation may be reduced. If you are more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover compensation from the other driver’s insurer.
Common Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies like State Farm often use strategies to minimize payouts. Accident victims may encounter:
- Low settlement offers that do not reflect the full cost of medical care or future needs
- Delays in processing claims to pressure injury victims into accepting less
- Requests for excessive medical records to dispute the link between treatment and the accident
- Blame-shifting to argue you were partially responsible under Florida traffic laws
Recognizing these insurance company tactics helps you respond effectively and protect your claim. It may feel discouraging when you encounter these obstacles, but with the right approach you can move your claim forward.
When to Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Many car accident claims with State Farm are resolved directly with the insurer, but certain situations make legal representation important. If you sustained a serious or catastrophic injury that requires long-term medical care, a personal injury attorney can pursue compensation for both your medical needs and the personal impact of the crash. Legal help is also valuable if State Farm denies your claim, delays payment, or offers a settlement that undervalues your damages.
In complex cases involving disputed liability or multiple negligent parties, such as a truck or motorcycle accident, a lawyer can investigate the crash, gather evidence, and negotiate with the insurer on your behalf.
Florida law generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (Fla. Stat. § 95.11).
Struggling with a State Farm Claim in Miami? Call Us Today
If you’ve filed a claim with State Farm after a car accident in Miami-Dade County, you may already feel pressure from insurance carriers pushing for a quick settlement. At Ward Ruddock, our trial attorneys represent injury victims in cases ranging from straightforward car accident claims to complex personal injury lawsuits involving catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
Our legal team investigates accidents, works with experts in accident reconstruction, and negotiates with insurance adjusters to pursue fair settlements. When necessary, we take cases to trial to establish liability and fight for maximum compensation under Florida law.
Your online search for “car accident lawyers near me” brought you here. Take the next step and call (305) 390-4259(305) 390-4259 or complete our confidential online form to schedule your FREE consultation.
At Ward Ruddock, we personalize our services for each client and every type of claim because we want to be Your Attorneys for Life.
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The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
Ward Ruddock
4770 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 600
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 390-4259(305) 390-4259
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