ArticlesWondering how to file a car accident claim with The General® Car Insurance? Fob & Foster Personal Injury Lawyers is here to guide you through the process.
The General® provides automobile insurance to its customers and insureds. You’ve probably seen its daytime TV commericals with Shaq.
The General® typically writes minimum insurance policies. The minimum policy limit varies State by State.
For example, in Alabama, the required minimum amount of automobile liability insurance coverage is $25,000 per claimant. However in Texas, the minimum auto liability policy limits is $30,000.00.
Unfortunately, instead of making the process for receiving compensation an amicable one, The General® has a reputation for low balling claimants.
Key Points Before You File a Claim With The General
Filing a car accident claim with The General Insurance is easier when you know how the insurer fits into your case and what to gather first. Keep these points in mind.
- Know how The General fits in: It may be the at-fault driver’s liability insurer, or it may be your own insurer if you file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim.
- Match the claim to the damage: A property damage only claim may be simple to report directly, while a claim involving injuries is best discussed with an attorney first.
- Gather your proof: The police report, medical bills, photos or video, witness statements, and contact details for everyone involved all help support a claim.
- Mind the clock and fault: The deadline to sue is generally two years (Ala. Code § 6-2-38), and Alabama’s contributory negligence rule can bar recovery if you are found partly at fault.
Dealing With The General® Can Be Challenging
Check out the The General’s reviews on the Better Business Bureau Website. Many claimants are not pleased with how The General® handles car insurance claims. The most common complaints are that The General® delays processing claims and makes low settlement offers.
Injured and need help with your claim against The General®? Call Fob & Foster Personal Injury Lawyers today at 866-837-1010 or contact us online to discuss your case and see what we can do for you.
When Will I Have A Bodily Injury Claim With The General®?
If you were injured because of the negligent actions of motorist with The General®, you will have a bodily injury claim against the other motorist.
How can The General® be part of the equation? In either of two scenarios:
- the other motorist has The General® liability auto insurance, or
- the other motorist is underinsured or uninsured and you have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage through The General®.
In either of these two scenarios, you will be dealing with The General® Car Insurance.
You Do Not Have to Handle This Alone
An Insurance Claim Should Not Add to the Stress of a Crash
Between doctor visits, car repairs, and calls from adjusters, a crash can turn everything upside down. Fob & Foster can listen to what happened, answer your questions, and help you understand your options. Your case review is free, and there is no pressure.
Free Case ReviewHow Do I Contact The General® Car Insurance?
If you are involved in an accident that results in bodily injury you should contact an attorney first. We do recommend that you try to deal with The General® on your own.
Your attorney can open a claim with The General® on your behalf and you will never have to speak with any employee or agent of The General®.
However, if you are involved in an accident that results in just property damage, you should consider contacting The General® to report a claim. But where do you start?
The General® provides two methods to file a claim:
- you can call The General® at 800-280-1466 to report the accident;
- you can file a claim online
What Do I Need To Provide The General® To File a Claim?
Like most insurance companies, The General®’s goal is to pay out as little as possible on your claim. In fact, it will often fall on the accident victim to prove that he or she is fully entitled to collect on their insurance policy.
Thus, it is imperative to gather as much information as possible to help bolster your auto accident claim.
Examples of information you may want to provide to your attorney or The General® to support a claim include:
- A FORMAL POLICE REPORT
- MEDICAL BILLS
- PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOS OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE
- CONTACT INFORMATION FOR OTHER PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT
- WITNESS STATEMENTS
- WITNESS CONTACT INFORMATION
Since the insurance company’s goal is to pay you as little as possible, it is crucial to building a strong case for why you are entitled to collect.
An experienced accident attorney can help you identify and gather relevant evidence to use in pursuing yourThe General® insurance claim.
The General Car Accident Claim Questions, Answered
Start by reporting the accident to The General by phone or through its online claims process, and keep your statement to basic facts. If you were injured, speak with an attorney before discussing injuries or fault. Gather the police report, photos, medical bills, and witness details to support the claim.
A bodily injury claim generally arises when another driver’s negligence causes your injuries. The General may be involved in two ways: the at-fault driver carries a General liability policy, or the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured and you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage through The General.
If you were injured, it is generally wise to speak with an attorney first. A lawyer can open the claim and handle communications with the insurer, which helps you avoid saying something that hurts your case. Early comments about injuries or fault can affect how a claim is valued.
If only your vehicle or property was damaged, you may be able to report the claim directly to The General by phone or online. If you were also hurt, speak with an attorney first, because what you say about the crash can affect your injury claim later. Keep repair estimates and photos of the damage.
Gather the police report, photos or video of the scene, and your medical bills. Collect contact information for the other drivers and any witnesses, along with witness statements if possible. The person making a claim generally has to show what happened and what it cost, so thorough records matter.
The deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is generally two years from the date of the accident (Ala. Code § 6-2-38). Insurance negotiations typically do not pause that clock, so waiting on an adjuster can cost you the right to sue. Speak with an attorney well before the deadline.
It can be difficult. Alabama follows contributory negligence, so a driver found even slightly at fault may be barred from recovering damages. Insurers sometimes rely on this rule to dispute claims, which makes prompt evidence gathering and legal guidance especially important after a crash.
Our Attorneys Can Help You With A Claim With The General®
Filing a bodily injury claim with The General® is complicated and tedious. Our team of personal injury and auto accident lawyers have extensive experience helping accident victims get the compensation they deserve from The General® Insurance.
If you were hurt by an insured of The General®, give the Fob & Foster Personal Injury Lawyers a call today at 866-837-1010 or contact us online to discuss your case and see what we can do for you.
Fob James, IV
Fob James obtained a B.S., in software engineering from Auburn University and then continued his education by getting his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. After working for a large national firm for several years, Fob found that his passion was fighting for individuals who have been seriously injured or wronged by others. Fob believes that the jury is the great equalizer to the power and influence that large corporations have in society. Many of Fob’s cases are high profile and have been featured in, among others: Bloomberg News, PlanAdvisor, AL.com, PlanSponsor, National Law Review, and BusinessInsider. For his work in obtaining numerous multi-million dollar outcomes for his clients, Fob has been recognized by: National Trial Lawyers Top 100, SuperLawyers Rising Star (2020-2026), Birmingham Business Journal Who’s Who in Law (2023-2025), and TrustAnalytica – Top Personal Injury Lawyers in Alabama.