Leesburg FL Lawyer discusses filing a claim with GEICO Insurance.
GEICO stands for Government Employees Insurance Company. The name goes back to the company’s formation when it targeted US government employees and military personnel as customers. Now, GEICO will insure all people if they meet underwriting guidelines.
GEICO is currently the third largest car insurance company in the United States. It insures about 10 million households and 16 million vehicles and holds about 9% of the auto insurance market. GEICO has gained market share over the last few years with its annoying an innovative commercials including the CAVEMAN and GEKKO. In 1996, GEICO became a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, which is run by Warren Buffett.
GEICO’s Claims Handling
Before 2003, GEICO was pretty easy to deal with and it would offer fair compensation to car accident victims. Around 2003 or so, GEICO started to change its claims paradigm and started fighting Florida car accident cases with vengeance. Also during this timeframe, GEICO started to increase the number of attorneys in staff counsel offices. With a higher percentage of lawsuits going in house to GEICOs attorneys, litigation costs became more predictable. Insurance companies thrive on risk assessment and predictability.
Our clients who have GEICO and are not pursuing a personal injury claim against the company usually have good things to say about the company. The field adjusters and estimates get out to their insureds quickly to assess the damage to a vehicle after an accident and seem to adjust property claims quickly.
Recently, I have noticed that GEICO has not been fairly appraising property and collision claims total loss valuation. If I were you, I would check the comparables that GEICO provides and you may learn that the vehicles do not exist or do not exist for the price noted on the comp.
GEICO has been a little more difficult in dealing with personal injury protection “no-fault” benefits. In my view, GEICO PIP adjusters are quick to set Independent Medical Exams of its insureds in an attempt to terminate personal injury protection benefits.
Florida car accident claims are adjusted in GEICOs south regional office located in Lakeland; however, all mail goes to another regional office in Macon, Georgia. If a lawsuit is filed, it is likely that GEICO’s staff counsel office will defend the case. GEICO has staff counsel offices in West Palm Beach, Orlando and Tampa. Generally, GEICO’s staff attorneys are professional and easy to get along with.
If you have any questions about filing a claim with GEICO insurance or if you would like a free copy of my book “A Guide to Florida Car Accident Claims” give me a call on my cell or fill out the internet consultation form on the right hand side of the screen.