If a third party, another motorist had damaged your vehicle, then you would have reason to file a third-party claim.
Basic features of such a claim
The insurance company that has received that submitted claim would handle it separately from any personal injury claim. There would be a different adjuster working on each claim.
The claimant does not have to wait before contacting the adjuster. At the time of that contact, the claimant should have at least one estimate for the cost of repairs available. Some claimants get more than one estimate. Other claimants have found that the adjuster becomes more cooperative, when provided with a detailed estimate.
The adjuster takes the estimate, but might also want to schedule a time when someone from the insurance company could have a look at the damaged vehicle. That inspection should take place at a time and location that suits the claimant. Moreover, the claimant should be present, during that same inspection.
The personal injury lawyer in St. Thomas knows that insurance company wants to be sure that the claimant has submitted a realistic number as the estimate. It does not want to pay claimants for costs that would not exist, if the damaged vehicle were taken to a repair shop. That is why a detailed estimate could prove so useful.
What might delay a handing over of the money sought for repairs?
That could be delayed, if the adjuster had claimed that both the claimant and the defendant were at-fault for the vehicle’s damaged condition. If the claimant were to accept that charge, then the amount offered for repairs would be less than had been anticipated.
In cases where adjusters work on claims separately, there is not much chance that a charge of shared-fault might be made. On other hand, if the claimant had not made a personal injury claim, then the adjuster might insist that the claimant’s actions had helped to cause the damaging events. Thus, the adjuster’s allegation would force the claimant to decide between 2 possible actions.
The claimant could accept the adjuster’s decision, and go along with the reduced payout for repairs. Of course, that would force the claimant to pay more money out-of-pocket, since the insurance company would be paying less. That alternate option would concern seeking to get an offer for more money. If the insurance company has refused to offer more money, then the claimant might need to file a lawsuit. Such an action would involve having the insurance company as the lawsuit’s target, in other words as the defendant.
Not all claimants embrace the chance to pursue a lawsuit. Not all claimants care deeply about their rights, with respect to those decisions that concern vehicle damage, rather than a personal injury.