Allstate Auto Insurance Claims

Car Crash Lawyers Representing People in the Cape Cod Area

The personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III represent people injured in car crashes in many communities throughout Massachusetts. We are committed to ensuring that auto insurers like Allstate fairly compensate the people whom we represent. Our Cape Cod car accident lawyers understand the pain and stress that can come with being involved in a crash. We can handle your Allstate auto insurance claim while you focus on the physical and emotional aspects of your recovery.

Car accidents are an unfortunate part of life on the road. That is why Massachusetts law requires anyone who gets behind the wheel in this state to carry a certain minimal amount of auto insurance coverage. The coverage is designed to create a sort of financial buffer by ensuring that people injured in accidents are compensated. Unfortunately, insurance companies often work aggressively to limit payouts or avoid them altogether. This is because they are profit-driven entities that want to maximize their bottom line for the benefit of their shareholders. However, they also owe a duty to their policyholders to treat them fairly, and a failure to do so may support a separate bad faith claim.

“No Fault” System

Massachusetts operates under a “no fault” system, which requires a driver injured in a crash to first turn to his or her own insurer for compensation. That means filing a claim with the insurer. It is important to give Allstate (or any other insurer) as much information as possible about how the crash happened and the full extent of your injuries. The insurer will then investigate the claim to determine whether it is covered by your policy.

State law also requires a person involved in certain kinds of crashes to alert the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. You must file a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report within five days of the accident if it results in an injury, a death, or more than $1,000 in property damage.

If you have been injured in a car crash, you can probably seek various types of compensation for your harm. For example, you can get compensation for your medical bills and property damage, as well as any wages missed if you took time off from work and any reduction in your future earning capacity if your injuries were lasting or permanent. Your attorney also can help you pursue compensation for your pain and suffering, even though this is more subjective.

“Good Faith” Requirement for Insurance Companies

All auto insurers in Massachusetts are covered by a “good faith and fair dealing” requirement that comes with operating in the state. These obligations are automatically imposed on any insurance contract and apply in all Allstate auto insurance claims, even if they are not explicitly stated in the terms of the agreement. The duty generally requires insurers to pay out qualifying claims in a reasonable time. It applies both to the driver insured under the contract and to anyone injured in a crash caused by that driver.

An insurer that does not live up to this duty can be held liable for acting in bad faith. The question in these cases is whether a reasonable insurer would have paid out the claim—or would have paid it more promptly or fully—under similar circumstances.

Contact a Knowledgeable Motor Vehicle Collision Lawyer on Cape Cod

At the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, we have obtained many millions of dollars in settlements and trial verdicts for clients on Cape Cod and elsewhere. Our lawyers make every effort to be available for our clients, and we take the time to guide them step by step through the process of an Allstate auto insurance claim or a related legal matter. There is always someone ready to talk to you at our law offices about the steps to take after a car accident. We prepare each and every case as if it will go all the way to trial, while drawing on our significant negotiation skills to settle cases efficiently and smoothly when possible. We are available to discuss your specific situation in a free initial consultation, and we offer flexible evening, weekend, and offsite hours. Call us at (888) 262-6664 or contact us online. Nós Falamos Português.