Within the United States, Progressive Auto Insurance is one of the largest insurance companies, holding over 10 million policies and growing. They stand along the lines of other insurers, such as State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide Insurance, Farmers Insurance, and USAA.
Progressive offers policies to individuals for automobiles, motorcycles, boats, and even recreational vehicles. Known best by their advertising campaigns sporting a quirky saleswoman, Progressive wants to be known to consumers as just that – a “progressive” insurance company.
Progressive Claims in Maryland
Progressive is one of the largest auto insurance companies in the United States, and they handle personal injury claims professionally and efficiently. They have a significant market share in the Baltimore-Washington area because they compete on price and, as we discuss below, they write small insurance policies that allows them to offer cheaper rates.
Progressive will assign a claims adjuster to the case when a personal injury claim is made. The claims adjuster’s role is to gather all the necessary information, assess the damage, and determine the amount of compensation to be paid to the injured party. They will communicate with the policyholder and any other parties involved to gather statements and evidence and ensure all necessary medical records are obtained.
Progressive utilizes technology and its team of experts to ensure that each personal injury claim is handled promptly. They have a user-friendly online claims center where policyholders can track the progress of their claims, access important documents, and communicate with the claims adjuster.
To its credit, Progressive Insurance has a reputation in Maryland for being prompt and professional when dealing with a consumer’s accident attorney. And Progressive Insurance adjusters follow up on demand letters and settlement offers as quickly as any car insurance company in Maryland.
But, let me tell you, when it comes to the actual settlement offered by Progressive, it is well below any average insurance company in Maryland, even the notably stingy State Farm. I’ve read this is true in other states as well and it is true for both bodily injury and property. Progressive Auto Insurance’s paradigm appears to be “see if the victim will file suit” before offering a reasonable settlement amount. A lawsuit against Progressive is typically the only language Progressive understands.
Is Progressive Easy to Deal With on Accident Claims?
Progressive, like many insurance companies, can be difficult to deal with on accident claims due to several reasons:
- Complex Claims Process: Insurance claims can often be unduly complicated, and Progressive’s claims process can be incredibly challenging for those unfamiliar with the process. The company may require a lot of documentation and evidence, which can be overwhelming for someone already dealing with an accident’s stress. Progressive is the kind of company that makes a big deal if the CPT insurance codes are incorrect even if we all know it was just a clerical error. Their adjusters are sticklers about everything.
- Denial of Claims: Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and one way they do this is by denying claims that they believe are not valid. Progressive is no exception, and they may deny claims for various reasons, such as a lack of evidence or because the policyholder was engaging in an activity that was excluded from coverage.
- Slow Claim Resolution: Even when a claim is approved, the resolution process can be slow. Progressive is actually faster than most but victims are not used to the glacial pace when they need money to pay for medical expenses or repairs.
- They Make Low Offers: The Progressive insurance adjusters are almost universally lovely. They offer unreasonable settlement payouts with a smile. But they are unreasonable. Their settlement offers are often below what you would get from other miserly insurance companies. Setting aside everything else, this is the problem I have with Progressive that really matters.
These are some reasons why Progressive, and insurance companies in general, can be challenging to deal with on accident claims. It’s essential to understand your insurance policy and the claims process and to be persistent and proactive in communicating with the insurance company to help ensure a smooth claims experience.
Progressive Write Small Insurance Policies in Maryland
In Maryland, the minimum required insurance coverage for a private passenger vehicle is:
- $30,000 for injury or death to one person
- $60,000 for injury or death to multiple people in one accident
- $15,000 for property damage
These limits are commonly referred to as 30/60/15 coverage. Progressive writes a lot of these policies. As an accident attorney, if your client has a small to mid-sized claim, don’t be surprised if their offer barely covers your client’s medical bills and lost wages.
The same people may prefer a smaller insurance policy with fewer coverage options because it is cheaper trend younger. So we see more young people with Progressive. Do young people tend to cause more accidents than older drivers? Yes. So we see Progressive quite a bit.
Some Lawyers Skip Settlement Demand and File a Lawsuit
An accident victim is typically better off filing a lawsuit against their Progressive insured than expecting or attempting to reach a settlement. Progressive has its own law firms throughout the country that represent them in accident lawsuits. But it is a small office of in-house attorneys in Maryland. They are ill-suited for long, drawn-out fights just for the sake of fighting.
Progressive Insurance has more than enough complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Affairs regarding their low-ball settlement offers and simple denials of claims. But, look, this is why we have lawyers and why we have a legal system. All that anger over the offer goes nowhere. The answer is a lawsuit.
Progressive Insurance – File a Claim
I think Maryland accident lawyers spend too much time complaining about Progressive and other tight insurance companies. If you don’t like their settlement offer, file a claim in court.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim with Progressive Auto Insurance in Maryland?
You have three years to file a personal injury car accident lawsuit against Progressive Auto Insurance and one year to bring PIP claim in Maryland. There are exceptions to these rules so contact a lawyer to ensure an exception does not shorten your time to file a claim.
How Do You File a Claim With Progressive Insurance?
It depends on what you mean by file a claim. If you want to file a lawsuit against Progressive, you must file a court complaint. If you want to file a pre-suit claim seeking damages, you must call them.
How Much Will My Progressive Insurance Go Up If I File a Claim?
In Maryland, your auto insurance should not rise if you are not at-fault for the accident. If you are at fault, your insurance will go up.
Progressive Insurance Report an Accident
I think you are making a mistake taking on Progressive in a bodily injury claim without hiring a Maryland lawyer who fights them regularly. But you can call Progressive to file a claim in Maryland at 800-776-4737.
I think trying to handle your own personal injury case is foolish. But if you are going to do it, you need to do it as correctly as you can. If you are writing your own simple demand letter, you can throw something together like this:
[Your Name and Address] [Date] Progressive Insurance Claims Department [Address]Dear Claims Adjuster,
I am writing to formally demand settlement of my insurance claim under policy number [Policy Number]. As you are aware, I was involved in a car accident on [Date of Accident] with your insured [Name], and my vehicle sustained significant damage I have suffered physical injuries that have caused me to incur medical bills, lost wages, and more significantly, my quality of life was awful during the four months I was recovering from this injuries.
I have provided Progressive with all necessary documentation, including a detailed estimate of the damages, a police report, and medical bills related to any injuries I sustained. Progressive has yet to make a fair and reasonable settlement offer despite my cooperation.
The repair estimate for my vehicle is [Dollar Amount], and I am seeking a settlement in the amount of [Dollar Amount]. This amount is fair and reasonable considering the extent of the damages and is supported by comparable settlements in similar cases.
I have been patient and understanding during this process, but I am now forced to make this formal settlement demand. Please be advised that if a fair settlement is not reached within [Timeframe], I will be forced to hire a personal injury lawyer and bring a claim in Baltimore City Circuit Court. I have already spoken to an accident lawyer about this claim.
I look forward to hearing from you soon and hope we can resolve this matter quickly and fairly.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]You should itemize your medical bills and lost wages and you should also explain what your pain and suffering was in the crash.
Hiring a Lawyer for Your Claim Against Progressive
Our firm handles personal injury claims against Progressive. Our lawyers have a history of success. Call us at 410-779-4600 or get a free consultation online.