Mobile Devices And Personal Injury Claims
Brian O Sutter
Personal Injury
Mobile devices are everywhere. They've become such a common part of our lives that it's hard to imagine getting through the day without them. And when it comes to personal injuries or auto accidents, mobile devices are playing a bigger role than ever before - in numerous ways.Obviously, mobile devices have led to numerous accidents. Distracted driving is now said to be just as dangerous as drunk driving, and everyday accidents occur throughout Florida due to people looking at their phones or tablets instead of the road. But while this is one way that mobile devices are impacting personal injury - by creating increased risks on the road - there are also other ways that they are having an influence as well. Taking a look at some of these ways is well worth doing.
Insurance Apps
Virtually every insurance company out there today lets their clients use an app to simplify their management of their policy. It also allows for users to submit a claim. However, only a few companies allow anyone to use the app as long despite not having a claim. For example, an Allstate driver involved in an accident means that both parties can use the Allstate app to file a claim. This offers faster turnaround times and can help show fault.
Some of the features an insurance company app may include are:
- The ability to file a claim
- Easy transference of accident info
- The ability to upload images of the accident and the vehicles immediately
- An ability to record your own personal notes
- Find nearby repair shops
- Record accident information from witnesses
And since you can upload all of this information right from your phone, it makes it easier to get money faster from a claim. Some apps may even allow video chats with an appraiser, which can let you follow the directions from the appraiser to upload a video for even faster results.
Insurance apps could have a tremendous impact on the future of how claims are handled, and already they're impacting the overall process of submitting claims following accidents.
Proving Fault
No matter how excellent an insurance app works, it will do little for injured parties if they can't show that another party was at fault. And while things like uploading videos or images of an accident through an app can certainly help make it easier to do so, the reality is that a mobile device can be used in other ways as well.
For example, a personal injury lawyer could pull mobile connectivity records to determine if a driver was using a smart phone in the seconds leading up to an accident. Even without an app, an injured person could take photos of the accident scene and upload them to their own records in the event that more proof is needed later.
Something else that is important is that when it comes to insurance apps, anything that you say or do could be used against you at some point. One mistake could help go against you when trying to seek compensation. As such, before simply trusting in such an app, it's important to speak with a personal injury attorney. They can help ensure that your rights are fully protected.
There's no way to deny the outright convenience of insurance company apps, but having a good personal injury attorney on your side is important as well. There's a good chance that a mobile device may still play a role in getting the compensation that you deserve, but proving fault is the first step and one that can't be ignored.
No matter what, mobile devices are here to stay. Embracing their usefulness is just as important as knowing when to put them down and focus on the road. But in any accident, there's a good chance that they may have a direct impact on injured parties getting the compensation that they deserve.