Why Was My Auto Accident Claim Denied By The Insurance Company?
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
After an auto accident, you will incur a lot of expenses. First, there is the damage to your vehicle which can cost thousands to repair and even more if you have to replace it. Second, if you have been injured you will incur a lot of medical expenses. The cost of doctor's visits, treatments, and pharmaceuticals are very high in Florida. Finally, if your injuries were so severe you had to miss work or even have lost your job, an accident can dramatically impact your income. Fortunately, in the state of Florida if you've been in an accident, especially if the other driver is at fault, you can file a claim with your auto insurance company to reimburse the money lost in the accident. However, what happens if the insurance company denies your claim?Reasons An Insurance Company Would Deny Your Claim
There are a number of reasons an insurance company would deny your claim. Some of these reasons are valid and some of these reasons are not valid. Here are the valid reasons for your claim being denied by the insurance company:
● If you or the other driver has not been paying their insurance premiums and have lost coverage.
● The claim exceeds your maximum coverage rates.
● If you were doing something that rendered the policy ineffective like drinking and driving.
● Failing to file the claim within a reasonable timeframe or after the statute of limitations has expired.
● Your documentation fails to prove damage.
● There is a dispute about who is liable for the accident.
These are all valid reasons for why a claim has been denied, but they are not the final word.
Bad Faith Denials
Unfortunately, not all auto accident insurance claim denials are legitimate. Insurance companies are in the business of making money. They do not make money if they constantly have to pay out claims. So they will often pull tricks or skirt the law in order to get out of paying. Insurance companies deploy bad faith denials in the hopes of getting you to give up your claim so they do not have to pay it. This happens far more frequently than people expect. Sadly, most will accept the denial and end up finding ways to pay for the damages themselves. If your auto accident insurance claim was denied for an illegitimate reason, you may have a “bad faith claim.”
What To Do If My Insurance Claim Is Denied
Regardless if the denial was legitimate or done in bad faith, you still have options to pursue a claim. First, you will need to speak to an auto accident attorney. They will review your case and determine if the claim was in good or bad faith. Then they will review the details of the accident, review your claim and documentation, and determine if you have a right to appeal the denial. If you do, they will begin the process.
Why Should I Hire An Attorney After An Auto Accident
After any auto accident, it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney to review your options. Whether or not you have filed a claim yet, an attorney can help. We’ll guide you on what documentation needs to be collected. Then we’ll handle all communication with the insurance company and negotiate a settlement. Attorneys know Florida law inside and out and will use that knowledge to protect you from bad faith claim denials.
If your claim has been denied, give the experienced attorneys at All Injuries Law Firm a call at 1-941-625-HURT. We’ll review your case for free and recommend the next steps. We’ve been working to protect auto accident victims in Southwest Florida for over 30 years. We know the difference between a legitimate denial and a denial in bad faith. We’ll fight to protect your rights.