If you are involved in an auto accident in Sandy, UT, you may be curious about how long you have, after the incident, to file an insurance claim. While it is always best to contact The Smith Insurance Group, Inc. immediately after the incident, there may be reasons you decide to file an insurance claim at a later date. Here is what you need to know about the time frame you have to file an insurance claim. 

Vehicle And Personal Property Damage 

After an accident, one of the first things you should do is contact your insurance company. To file an insurance claim for any possible damages, you will have the option to either file with your own insurance company, called a “first-party” claim, or against the other driver’s insurance, called a “third-party” claim. 

According to Utah Code section 78B-2-305, if your vehicle or other Sandy, UT personal property was damaged as a result of a vehicular accident, any lawsuit regarding that claimed damage must be filed within three years of the date of the incident.  

Bodily Injury 

According to Utah State Law, any person in your vehicle who suffers a bodily injury is required to submit their claim to your insurance company. For each person incurring an injury, the first $3,000 in medical expenses will be covered by your The Smith Insurance Group, Inc. policy under Personal Injury Protection before they can file a claim with the other party’s responsible insurer. 

Is There A Time Frame For Concluding My Claim? 

If you fail to file a suit or accept a final settlement before the statute of limitations is up, you can jeopardize your right to receive any settlement. You are required to either file a lawsuit or accept a final settlement offer within the time frame required by specific statutes of limitations: 

• For property damage claims – The time frame is three years from the date of the accident. 

• For bodily injury claims – The time frame is four years from the date of the accident. 

Reach out to The Smith Insurance Group, Inc. for an auto insurance policy and a quote. Our agents are ready to help walk you through the insurance process.

The world is a few years away from the time when you will be able to hop into a self-driving car and let the computer take you where you need to go. However, a number of features exist now that will make your daily commute or road trip a little bit easier and a lot safer. But what are the best features to ask for when making your next car purchase? Consumer reports have a list of available features. Here are some that The Smith Insurance Group, Inc., serving Sandy, UT, recommends.

Autonomous Driving Features

Many accidents happen when the driver is not being as attentive at the wheel as he or she should be. This can result in the driver rear-ending the vehicle in front of them. Automatic emergency braking will apply the brakes when a collision appears to be imminent, thus preventing the accident. Another similar feature is a collision warning system that will give an audible or visual warning to alert the driver to an oncoming collision.

Shifting lanes into another vehicle is also a cause of accidents. A blind spot warning system will sound an alarm if another vehicle is in your blind spot as you begin to change lanes. A lane departure warning system will alert you if you start to depart your lane through inattention. A lane keeping assist system will keep you in your lane.

Finally, you should consider getting adaptive cruise control, using a suite of sensors to keep a set distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. When the traffic slows, your car will slow as well. When the traffic speeds up, so will your vehicle.  

For more questions on auto insurance and car safety, contact The Smith Insurance Group, Inc. serving Sandy, UT.