If you have been injured in an accident and the at-fault driver or homeowner is insured by Wawanesa, or if you are seeking compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage policy, contact the personal injury lawyers at Estey & Bomberger for a free consultation and more information on maximizing your insurance settlement. Although Wawanesa is well known for its low rates, some customers have had problems recovering fair compensation for their claims.
About Wawanesa Insurance
Founded in Manitoba, Canada in 1896, Wawanesa Insurance is one of the leading insurance companies in Canada. The company initially was established as a farmer’s mutual insurance company. The United States branch of Wawanesa was founded in 1974, with the head office in San Diego, CA. The company underwrites auto insurance policies, homeowners insurance, and condominium coverage policies in California. Today, Wawanesa ranks among the top twenty auto insurance writers in the state of California.
What to Do After an Auto Accident
After any accident, there are important steps you must take to protect your rights and begin the insurance claims process. Your first priority at the scene should be attending to your own medical needs. Call 911 if you or any other party has a serious or life-threatening injury. Secondly, insist that a police officer, sheriff, highway patrol officer, or other law enforcement come to the scene and write a report. Next, if you are able to, get the other driver’s license, insurance, and vehicle description. Get phone numbers, addresses, insurance policy numbers, expiration dates, and any other information. If anyone witnessed the accident, write down their contact information as well. If you are able to do so, take pictures of the accident scene and any damage. Do not admit fault or make any statements about what you were doing when the accident occurred. Even if you were not at fault, you are obligated to inform your own insurance company as soon as possible following an accident. Provide the necessary details for the company to begin processing the claim, but do not give any statements about the extent of your injuries or your role in the accident. Lastly, talk to an experienced auto accident lawyer about your legal rights. Contact Estey & Bomberger 24 hours a day for a free consultation.
Dog Bite and Slip and Fall Homeowner Claims
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident or bitten by a dog on someone else’s property, and the property owner is insured by Wawanesa, you may be entitled to compensation from the property owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy. In California, the owner of the dog is automatically liable for any unprovoked injury a dog causes. A property owner may or may not be liable for your injuries in a slip and fall accident depending on certain factors.
Settling Your Wawanesa Insurance Claim
Every accident has a unique set of factors. After an accident, you may be wondering how long it will take to settle your claim. Settling an insurance claim with Wawanesa can take weeks, months, or even longer. Although you are likely anxious to settle the matter quickly, you should be more concerned about getting a fair settlement than getting a fast settlement. If your injuries are serious, you should fully understand the extent of your injuries and how they will affect your life going forward before you accept a settlement. Once you accept a settlement, you forever give up your rights to compensation in any future claim.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
If your injuries are minor, you may be able to handle your Wawanesa claim independently by yourself, without the representation of an attorney. Making this determination, however, should not be done without a thorough review of your accident, your injuries, and your insurance policy, and the insurance policy of the at-fault driver or property owner. Talk to an attorney and fully understand your rights, before you decide how to handle your claim. At Estey & Bomberger, we offer a free, no-obligation telephone consultation. To speak with an attorney about your potential case, call us anytime at (800)925-0723.