The fact is that car insurance claims do often get denied, and this can be very frustrating.If you're looking to find out what insurance steps to follow after an accident, you're in the right place. This is especially the case if you're looking to use your insurance claim to cover any accident-related expenses. That being said, an insurance claim denial doesn't necessarily mean that it's the end of the road.
It is often possible to appeal and negotiate a claim, or even to overturn it, as long as you follow the right approach, which is exactly what you will be taught here today.
Of course, insurance companies are for profit, and this means that they will look to deny your claims whenever possible. Denials could be due to procedural errors, disputes over liability, policy limitations, and more. Here's why your claim might get denied:
One of the primary reasons for insurance claims getting denied is due to a lack of sufficient evidence, as insurers do require solid documentation to process and accept claims. Official evidence that insurers use includes police reports, photo and video evidence, and witness statements. An insurer may deny a claim if these pieces of evidence are missing.
Policy exclusions are another reason why car insurance claims are often denied, as various policies have specific exclusions. For instance, intentional damage will likely not be covered, as are unlisted drivers. Furthermore, if you've been using your vehicle for business purposes, but it's insured for personal use, your claim will likely be denied.
Another reason for car insurance claims being denied is due to missed deadlines for reporting the accident and filing the claim. There are some insurance that require notification within 24 hours, although you'll often have longer to file the claim, generally up to several months, depending on your policy.
Another major reason for car insurance claims getting denied is due to liability disputes. For instance, if the insurance company determines the policyholder is not liable, they will not cover damages. There may also be conflicting evidence, differing accounts, or other insurance companies may be disputing liability on behalf of their client.
Finally, claims may be denied due to insufficient or lapsed coverage, which means that you have to make sure that your premiums are always paid on time.
There are still options at your disposal in the event that your claim is denied, including the following:
Your insurance company will send you a written explanation as to why your claim was denied. You'll want to review the letter to identify the specific reason why your claim was denied, looking for key phrases such as disputed liability, policy exclusion, or insufficient evidence.
You'll also want to take note of any deadlines for appeals as well as additional documentation that you may need. The reason why you were denied will determine what the following steps will be.
Next, you'll need to gather additional evidence to help strengthen your case. This means attempting to obtain new witness statements, requesting supplemental police reports in the event that new information becomes available, and seeking an expert opinion from an accident reconstruction specialist, a medical professional, or a mechanic.
The next step is to contact your insurance company for clarification, particularly if the denial letter lacks any details. You'll want to ask for a detailed explanation why the claim was denied, request documentation that they used to make their decision, and you'll want to keep all records of communications.
The next step in overcoming a denied insurance claim is filing an appeal, particularly if you believe that the denial was unfair.
First, you'll need to write a well-written appeal letter, you'll have to attach supporting documents, and you'll need to be sure to meet all applicable deadlines to make sure that your case is reviewed. Keep in mind that each insurer may have different rules and procedures, so check before beginning this process.
Finally, if needed, you should seek legal help. A good lawyer can help file your complaint with the proper regulatory agencies, pursue legal action if the insurer does not want to pay for a valid claim, and negotiate with said insurer.
As you can see, if your car insurance claim gets denied, you'll have to go through a lengthy process in order to overturn the judgment. Of course, there's always a chance that the insurance company's ruling will stand. However, there are good ways to avoid this from occurring:
At the end of the day, although a denied car insurance claim can be extremely frustrating, it doesn't mean that it's the end of the road. If you understand why your claim got denied, you review your denial letter, gather more evidence, and appeal to the decision, you may just find that the outcome shifts in your favor.
Remember, however, if all else fails, you'll likely want to seek legal support, as a lawyer can help you negotiate with insurance companies, understand the process better, and advocate on your behalf.
