More than 16 million vehicles in the U.S. are insured by the Government Employees Insurance Company, better known as GEICO. Despite the use of the word “government” in the company’s name, GEICO is and always has been a private corporation. GEICO, the fastest grown major auto insurer in the country, offers private passenger automobile insurance in all 50 U.S. states, including California. For automobile policyholders, the primary insurance coverage types GEICO offers are bodily injury liability, medical payments coverage, no-fault or personal injury protection coverage, comprehensive physical damage coverage, property damage liability, collision coverage, rental car reimbursement, and uninsured motorist coverage. GEICO also markets homeowner’s insurance, motorcycle insurance, ATV insurance, homeowners’ insurance, renters’ insurance, RV insurance, boat insurance, and other types of insurance underwritten by other companies.
About GEICO Insurance
GEICO was originally founded in 1936 to provide automobile insurance to federal government employees and their families. In 1996, GEICO became a wholly-owned subsidiary company of the conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway. The company is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland. GEICO offers a number of perks to auto insurance policyholders, including online claims reporting, emergency road service, an Auto Repair Xpress (ARX) program, and “accident forgiveness” if you’ve been a GEICO customer for five years and have not had an accident in that time.
GEICO Insurance Claims
GEICO is famous for its advertising tactics, and its caveman and gecko commercials. The insurance company spends hundreds of millions in television advertising every year, claiming that “Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance.” In 2007, the company reportedly spent more than $750 million in advertising. Perhaps more importantly than the several hundred dollars that GEICO claims to save policyholders each year is the issue of how does the company rate when it handles insurance claims? GEICO policyholders that do not file insurance claims against the company usually are happy with the company. However, many people who have brought an accident claim against GEICO have obtained a settlement they were happy not with. Before you settle your case, talk to a lawyer about your injury claim, and find out what you can do to recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
Getting the Maximum Compensation For Your Claim
If you’ve been injured in an accident and the at-fault driver or the property owner was insured with a GEICO policy, it is important to remember that no matter how friendly and understanding the claims representative is, the insurance company may not have your best interests at heart. Before you make a recorded statement regarding the accident, or consider accepting a settlement, talk to a lawyer and get an honest opinion of your case. The attorneys at Estey & Bomberger have recovered millions of dollars for victims seriously injured in all types of accidents involving GEICO insurance policies, including:
- Auto accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Dog attacks
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- SUV rollover accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Truck accidents
- Wrongful death accidents.
Choosing a lawyer to handle your case is an important decision. It is definitely a good idea to work with a lawyer who has successfully handled insurance settlements against the insurance company that is handling your case. The attorneys at Estey & Bomberger have even secured settlements and verdicts in cases where the insurance company initially denied the claim. If you would like more information about your legal rights after an accident, and how to best handle a GEICO insurance claim, contact the California personal injury lawyers at Estey & Bomberger for a free consultation.