When you’re in a car accident and Travelers Insurance covers the at-fault driver, dealing with the claim can feel like a weight is crushing you. But understanding how Travelers handles claims, what to expect during the process, and how to protect your rights will make the difference between a tiny settlement and the full compensation you deserve. Knowledge of Car Accidents with Travelers Insurance is crucial for Texas drivers.
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Understanding Travelers Insurance Auto Claims in Texas
Travelers is one of the biggest auto insurers in the United States, covering thousands of Texas drivers. Like other top insurers, their adjusters have been trained to keep payouts as low as possible, which helps keep their company’s profits in the black. When a serious crash happens, their people will be on the scene investigating liability, assessing the damage, and trying to settle it as quickly as possible – before you even begin to understand the full extent of your injuries or losses.
Car Accidents with Travelers Insurance can often lead to complicated claims processes, making it essential for drivers to be prepared and informed.
When you’re dealing with Travelers, documentation is just as important as persistence. Every single phone call, email, and letter you send should be saved in case you need them later. And don’t be surprised if they try to get you to give a recorded statement or admit to something that could be used against you later. Insurance companies do that a lot.
What to Do After an Accident Involving a Travelers-Insured Driver
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Get the Police Involved Right Away
Call 911 to report the collision as soon as possible. Get a police report done – it’s going to be vital evidence if you need to prove that the other driver was at fault. And for goodness sake – don’t take Travelers at their word on what happened.
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Get Medical Help ASAP
Even if you don’t think you were hurt badly, get yourself to a doctor right away. Lots of car accident injuries don’t show up right away. Examples are like concussions or whiplash. And the more medical evidence you have, the stronger your claim will be.
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Let Your Own Insurance Company Know About the Crash
You should also report the crash to your own insurance company. It’s the best way to protect yourself in case the other driver’s insurance doesn’t pay out. This will also ensure you’re covered for uninsured motorist coverage and medical payments under your own policy.
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Get All the Evidence You Can
Take photos of the damage to both cars, any injuries you’ve got, skid marks, and debris – anything you can think of that might help prove what happened. Get witness statements and get a copy of the official crash report from the Texas Department of Transportation’s website.
How Travelers Handles and Values Claims
When they are told about the crash, Travelers will assign someone to evaluate your claim. This person will:
- Look over the police report and any witness statements they can find
- Try to get you to give a recorded statement
- Check over the damage to the cars and get repair estimates
- Look over your medical records and billing
- Use their computer software to pick a range for the settlement
Just remember that Travelers’ software, like Colossus, often doesn’t do a great job of valuing things like pain and suffering, long-term disability, or emotional trauma. It’s all just averages, not based on what really happened to you.
Tactics That Travelers Adjusters Use
Now, Travelers adjusters are going to be friendly and professional on the outside, but their job is to minimize claim costs. Watch out for things like:
- Stalling communication to get you to accept a smaller offer
- Asking for tons of unnecessary documentation to delay the claim some more
- Disputing the cost and medical necessity of your treatment
- Questioning whether the crash caused your injuries in the first place
- Making an early “lowball” offer before they even know the full extent of your damages
Don’t sign any releases, don’t give them a recorded statement, and don’t accept an offer until you’ve talked to an experienced personal injury lawyer.
What Compensation Are You Due After a Travelers-Insured Accident?
If you were hurt by a driver who has Travelers insurance, you may be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Medical bills – both past and future
- Lost wages and any lost earning capacity
- Damages to your vehicle and any other property
- Pain and suffering
- Any physical impairment you’ve got
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship or the ability to have a normal life
And in cases of fatal accidents, family members may also be able to file a wrongful death claim under the Texas Wrongful Death Act.
How Long Does a Travelers Insurance Claim Take to Settle?
Travelers’ claims can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, or even longer. It all depends on how much of a fight there is over liability, how long it takes to get your medical treatment sorted out, and how much negotiating is needed. Some property damage claims settle in less than a week, but personal injury claims can take a while.
And be aware that Travelers adjusters will often try to stall you, hoping that you’ll get desperate and settle for less than you’re due. But an experienced lawyer will make sure that deadlines are met, that your claim is valued fairly, and that they don’t get away with not paying you what you’re owed.
Filing a Lawsuit Against Travelers in Texas
If Travelers won’t give you a reasonable settlement, your lawyer may have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
In Texas, most car accident victims have 2 years from the date of the crash to file suit, per Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003.
Your attorney will get to work on discovery, taking depositions, gathering expert testimony, and being prepared to head to court if necessary. After that, Travelers will assign defense lawyers to the case, which can often make settlement talks more realistic.
Bad Faith Insurance Tricks by Travelers
Travelers, like all other insurance companies in Texas, must comply with the Texas Insurance Code and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). But if Travelers starts acting in bad faith – things like dragging their feet on payments, rejecting legitimate claims, or simply being dishonest with policy terms – you might have grounds to sue them for extra damage and lawyer fees.
Some bad faith behavior to watch out for includes:
- Not doing a proper investigation before denying a claim
- Misrepresentation of your policy
- Failing to make a good faith attempt to claim you have made under your policy when payment is due
- Delaying payment without a good reason
Why Having a Good Lawyer on Your Side Really Matters
Going up against a big insurance company like Travelers without a lawyer is just asking for trouble and almost guarantees an unfair outcome. That’s where an experienced car accident lawyer comes in to play. Get one who knows their way around the Texas system.
A good Texas personal injury lawyer can:
- Handle all the back and forth with adjusters so you don’t have to
- Gather up and present all the relevant evidence on your medical costs and economic losses
- Get their hands on black box data, witness statements, and all the other important evidence to prove your case
- Send a strong letter demanding a fair settlement – or go to court if that’s what it takes
- Aggressively push back against lowball valuations and other underhanded tactics
Lawyers who know how Travelers operates are the ones who can convince them to pay up and settle.
What to Do If You Get Hurt in a Car Crash Involving Travelers
- Call 911 and report the accident
- Get yourself to a doctor ASAP
- Gather up all the photos, witness contact info, and insurance details
- Let your own insurance company know what’s going on
- Get a hold of a skilled personal injury lawyer before talking to Travelers
The sooner you get a good lawyer on board, the stronger your hand will be when it comes to negotiating or, if it comes down to it, going to court.
Get Help from Baumgartner Law Firm – The Travelers Insurance Claim Experts
At Baumgartner Law Firm, our Houston car accident lawyers have been handling big-time cases against major insurance companies, including Travelers, for over 40 years. We take on the toughest case and fight for you or a loved one. We fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
We work on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless we win. Call (281) 587-1111 or send us a text message online for a free consultation right away.
Baumgartner Law Firm
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069
(281) 587-1111
