How to Handle a GEICO Claim After a Car Accident
If you were injured in an accident involving a GEICO-insured driver, or if you carry GEICO coverage yourself, you have the right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage. GEICO is one of the largest auto insurers in the country, and like any insurance company, its adjusters are trained to settle claims quickly and for as little as possible.
When To File a Claim With GEICO
There are two reasons why you may need to file a car accident claim with GEICO: the at-fault driver’s policy was issued by GEICO, or your own policy was issued by GEICO. Each situation comes with its own rules and considerations.
When you do file a claim with GEICO, you should know exactly what you are up against in the claims process. You are dealing with a company that has a track record of using hard-nosed business tactics when handling claims. GEICO wants to protect its bottom line at your expense, so you should know exactly what you are getting into before you try to deal with them. Any mistakes can cost you money.
The At-Fault Driver’s Policy Was Issued By GEICO
When someone else’s negligence has resulted in your car accident injuries, they must pay for your damages. As the at-fault driver’s insurer, GEICO is responsible for paying your damages up to the amount of the policy limit.
This is called a third-party claim. You are not GEICO’s customer in this situation; the at-fault driver is, and that distinction matters. GEICO’s obligation runs to its policyholder first, not to you. Their adjuster’s job is to resolve your claim for as little as possible while protecting their insured.
Your Policy Was Issued By GEICO
If the other driver did not have a car insurance policy, or if they did not have enough coverage to pay for your damages, you may need to file a claim under your own GEICO policy. This applies if you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage is required to be included in every auto liability policy issued in Texas, unless the policyholder rejects it in writing.
If you can prove fault for the car accident, GEICO will need to pay you up to the amount of your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Even though GEICO is your own insurer, do not expect them to handle this claim differently from any other. They will not be anywhere near as cooperative when it is their money on the line.
How To File a Claim With GEICO
There are several ways that you can file a claim with GEICO:
- Report a claim online through the claims portal on GEICO’s website
- File through the GEICO mobile app
- Call GEICO directly and file a claim by phone
How you submit documentation depends on how you are filing your claim. If you are filing online, you will be expected to submit pictures and other information about the accident. If you file by phone, GEICO will likely ask you questions and expect a verbal description of the accident. Regardless of how you file your claim, GEICO will conduct their own investigation of the accident before they make you any settlement offer.
You are likely not approaching GEICO out of the blue. Chances are their adjuster has been trying to speak to you since the accident, trying to gain as much information from you as they can. The insurance company often goes to work right away after the accident has been reported to them. You should not speak to a GEICO adjuster without legal representation, regardless of whether they represent the other driver or your own policy.
GEICO Claims Phone Number
You can reach GEICO’s claims department by calling 1-800-841-3000. Their claims line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Before you call, understand that anything you say to a GEICO adjuster can be used to reduce or deny your claim. Keep your account of the accident brief and factual. Do not speculate about fault, do not minimize your injuries, and do not agree to a recorded statement without first speaking to an attorney.
After Filing a Claim With GEICO
Once you have filed your claim, GEICO will take time to review the evidence you have presented. They will operate on their own timing, either pressuring you into a quick settlement that is not in your interest or deliberately delaying your claim to gain the upper hand in negotiations.
Response Deadlines
If you have filed a claim under your own policy, GEICO is subject to strict response deadlines under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act:
- Acknowledge your claim within 15 days of notice
- Accept or reject it within 15 business days of receiving all required documentation
- Pay within 5 business days of acceptance
If you have filed a third-party claim against the at-fault driver’s policy, those statutory deadlines do not directly apply to you, though GEICO is still prohibited from engaging in unfair claims settlement practices under Texas Insurance Code 541.
If GEICO Accepts Liability
GEICO may choose to accept liability for the accident. In that case, they will make you a settlement offer, which is almost always going to be for far less than the value of your claim. Then, you may need to negotiate extensively before you can reach an agreement. GEICO may also claim that you were partially at fault for the accident.
Under Texas law, your compensation is reduced proportionally by your share of fault, and if GEICO can push your fault percentage to more than 50%, you are legally barred from recovering anything at all. That is exactly why their effort to shift blame onto you is not just a negotiating tactic. It is a threshold legal issue that must be challenged with evidence.
If GEICO Denies Your Claim
The other outcome is that GEICO may deny your claim entirely, arguing that you have failed to present enough evidence that their driver was liable. When that happens, your only pathway to compensation is filing a car accident lawsuit in court, which GEICO would then have to defend.
Hints for Filing a Claim With GEICO
- Document everything at the scene, including photos, witness contact information, and the other driver’s insurance details
- Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor
- Do not give a recorded statement without legal counsel
- Keep records of all medical bills, missed work, and out-of-pocket expenses
- Never accept a first settlement offer without reviewing it with an attorney
Contact The Buzbee Law Firm Today
Our legal team at The Buzbee Law Firm handles GEICO for you, so you can focus on your recovery and family during a difficult time. We take cases across the state of Texas and are proud to serve our community of Houston as well. There is no fee to you unless you win your case.
Schedule a free initial consultation with one of our trusted attorneys by contacting us today at (713) 223-5393.